
Class / cJ Uy 



COPYRIGHT DfiPOSrr. 



HEART SONGS 

IBttBtB for Cl|n0ttatt0 



BY 



HENRY WESTON FROST 



"Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" 



BOSTON 

THE GORHAM PRESS 



CHINA INLAND MISSION 

PHILADELPHIA TORONTO 



Copyright, 191 7, by Henry W. Frost 

All Rights Reserved (C\\ 



<-1^ 



The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A. 

NOV 22 1917 






DEDICATION 

Long years ago, one day in sunlit May, 

There burst forth from my heart a spring-time 
song; 
I knew not whence it came, but I dared pray 
That God would take my words, nor deem them 
wrong ; 
For all was fair that day, below, above. 
And I had sung my song in praiseful love. 

The years have passed, and I have oft-times sung, 
In other springs, and through long winters too, 
When joys were full, and e'en when tears were 
wrung 
From heart and eyes because life's joys were 
few; 
What could I do but sing since Christ was mine? 
Love must praise such as He, through cloud and 
shine. 

Some frowned displeasure ; some more kindly smiled 
But thought them folly — these my humble lays; 

This too I deem them, though they were beguiled 
By love that could not still its tuneful praise: 

And — since I love — ^with spirit bowed and awed, 

I lay my folly at the feet of God ! 

1916. 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Adoration 8i 

Afterward 6i 

Ambition . . Ii8 

Aspiration 30 

Bethlehem 27 

Bible, The 88 

Bird Songs 12 

Bond Service 107 

Call of the East, The 74 

Calvary 41 

Chaos 112 

Chosen . I2i 

Comforted 22 

Commissioned 114 

Communion Hymn 72 

Comparison, A 113 

Compensation 80 

Confession, A 83 

Confidence 116 

Cosmos 113 

Cry, A . 102 

Day Dream, A 45 

Death iii 

Dedication 3 

Discipleship 115 

Discontent loi 

Discouragement 35 

Dreamer, A 107 

Earth Bound 59 

Easter . 43 

5 



FAGB 

Easter Day 105 

Encouragement 1 19 

Enslaved 67 

Enthroned 119 

Eternity 36 

Evensong 26 

Fame 14 

Farewell 109 

For Me 22 

Friendship 45 

Golden Rod 62 

Good Morning 96 

Good Night 96 

Have We Forgot 58 

Heart Break 70 

Heart Gifts 87 

Heart Wish, A 79 

Highlands, The 53 

Home Bound no 

Hope 92 

Incitement 14 

King David 128 

Life 97 

Life from Death 40 

Longings for Christ 18 

Lord's Day, The 13 

Lord Jesus, Come 17 

Lost and Found 34 

Love 104 

Man's Life 39 

Ministry of Suffering, The ...... 83 

6 



PAGE 

Misunderstanding 90 

Mother's Reverie, A 15 

My Choice 13 

My Creed 61 

My Lord and King 23 

My Pilot 30 

Name, The 69 

Night Song 11 

Old Age 95 

One Hundred and Twenty-first Psalm, The 78 

"Our Father" 89 

Our Fatherland 73 

Out of the Depths 19 

Parallel, A 83 

Parted 108 

Peace 49 

Pilgrimage 51 

Praise 56 

Prayer 48 

Prayer, A 57 

Puritan, A 115 

Question, A 80 

Requiem 48 

Rest 16 

Restored 38 

Resurrection 85 

Revelation 97 

Sacrifice 91 

Satisfied 25 

Self Love 99 

Shadows 6a 

7 



PAGE 

Slumber Song 55 

Songs 123 

Sorrow 92 

Spiritual Conflict 44 

Spring Song ii 

Submission 64 

Surprise 103 

Transformed 94 

Transformed Clay, The 32 

Through Death to Life 65 

To-day 89 

Twenty-third Psalm, The 35 

Virgin's Meditation, The 77 

Weariness 64 

Weeping 46 

Woodman's Song, The 76 

Words 117 



HEART SONGS 



SPRING SONG 

"All thy works praise thee." 

Breathe, birds, thy sweetest songs, 
Take, fields, thy brightest sheen. 
Fair as the morn appears 

The coming of earth's Qiieen. 

Each weed and flower feels 
New thrills of her sweet grace; 

Hid springs and brooks reflect 
The beauty of her face; 

And human hearts are filled 
With light of joy and love, 

From thee, O Queen below. 
To Thee, O King above! 



;i. 



NIGHT SONG 

'Thou makest darkness, and it is night! 

From the glare of noontide 

Day now seeks its rest, 
Hiding sunset blushes 

On Night's loving breast; 

And the stars in heaven, 
Opening wide their eyes. 

Watch in faithful guarding 
Till the morning's rise. 



^' I 



Sweet and deep contentment | 

From the night wind flows; i 

Hearts forget their sorrows, \ 

Tired eyelids close. ! 

i 

Welcome, blessed nightfall; i 

May thy sweet release 

Bring to all the weary ■ 

Thoughts of heaven's peace! \ 



BIRD SONGS 

"The time of the singing of birds is come." 

At morn's first dawning-tide I heard 

The birds breathe forth their waking song. 
And I forever would prolong 

The praise which in my heart was stirred. 

Through all the sunny hours of day 
Their voices praised for every good; 
Oh, that my heart, unfailing, could 

Accord as well its thankful lay! 

The daylight passed; eve's holy calm 
Fast deepened into darker night; 
But, from the midst of fading light 

Uprose the birds' sweet even-psalm. 

So would I ever, ever sing, 

As true, as free, as full a song; 

Alike through trial, sorrow, wrong. 
May praises from my heart upspring! 

1883. 

12 



THE LORD'S DAY 
"In the Spirit on the Lord's day." 

Sweet day of Christ, earth's perfect peace, 
Blest token of the yonder life; 
From thy bright light, man's sinful strife 

Flees far, and bids earth's darkness cease. 

Calm of the soul, storm-tossed and driven. 
Through days of doubt and dark despair ; 
Sweet promise that the nearing There 

Will bring the calm of sins forgiven. 

Then peace, my soul; thy turmoil still; 

Put far away the troubled mind; 

In this day's holy quiet, find 
The rest which heaven will fulfil ! 

1882. 

MY CHOICE 

"/ have chosen the way of truth." 

Let who will, in lordly splendor. 

Ride through highways, fair and broad; 

I would, humbler, choose the byway, 
And there, serving, walk with God! 

1883. 



13 



FAME 

"The righteous shall he in everlasting remembrance'' 

Who stoops to trace his name upon the sands 
May rise to see it vanish as he stands; 
Who cuts his name upon the firmer clay 
May hope to see it last a single day; 
Who carves his name upon the harder stone 
May find it there until new moss has grown ; 
Who leaves his name upon the heart of man — 
Give time of ending, whosoever can! 

1883. 

INCITEMENT 

"Seek those things which are above." 
(To a friend, with a copy of religious poems.) 

As birds in summer teach their wee-fledged things, 
By many a flutter and oft sounded call, 
To mount the nest and dare a weakling's fall, 

That, after, they may soar on strengthened wings; 
So may these thoughts of pure and guiding song, 

In earnest call to dare the right endeavor, 

Uplift thy soul into the great forever 

Of highest purpose, made by action strong. 

1883. 



14 



A MOTHER'S REVERIE 

"Can a woman forget her childf" 

Breathe, breathe, O blessed breeze. 
Bring the cold earth glad summer's heat and show- 
ers, 
Bring song of birds and hum of busy bees, 
Bring early blossoms and the fragrant flowers; — 
Yet thou canst nothing bring so sweet and fair 
As my dear Baby's beauteous face and hair! 

Cease, cease, O cheerless cloud; 

Hide 'neath the hills which guard the eastern view, 

Leaving no shred, torn from thy trailing shroud, 

To gloom the fair expanse of sunlit blue; — 

Yet not above is there such blue as lies 

In the sweet heaven of my Baby's eyes! 

Shine, shine, O sparkling sea; 
Flash the bright jewels on thy heaving breast; 
Or, stilled to peace, all calm and silent be, 
A glowing pathway to the golden west; — 
Yet fairer, sweeter, purer far, the while, 
Is the bright glory of my Baby's smile! 

Guard, guard, O gracious God; 

Guard Thou my Babe, my precious Babe, and me; 

Make strong his feet to walk paths yet untrod. 

Keep calm my heart, whate'er his lot may be; 

So, if Thou ask of me Thy gift again, 

I'll yield my Babe, and yielding, not complain! 

1883. 



15 



REST 

"I will give you rest." — "Ye shall find rest." 

(The song of a converted mendicant monk.) 

At rest in Jesus! Weary feet 
Shall toil no more through mart and dusty street 
In works of penance, while in grave-clothes bound, 
Thrusting unholy steps on holy ground ! 

At rest in Jesus! Ah, my heart, 
How oft in works of merit thou didst start 
To find that self-done deeds in ashes fell 
Consumed within by some swift flame of hell! 

At rest in Jesus! Nevermore 
To con the weary lesson o'er and o'er; — 
The lesson learned; behold, I find my rest, 
My head laid down upon my Savior's breast! 

At rest in Jesus! As I stand, 
His smile lets fall the light of glory-land; 
Before — myself and sin! O Christ, 'tis sweet 
To rest in Thee, and so find rest complete ! 

At rest in Jesus! Now I go 

Through mart and dusty street, not fast, nor slow; — 
I walk with Christ at rest; in Him I've found 
The right to humbly serve on holy ground! 

1887. 



16 



LORD JESUS, COME 

'Surely, I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come. 
Lord JesUs." 

Weary of earth and longing to be free, 
Upward I look, and wait, dear Lord, for Thee; 
Hark to my cry, and answer this my plea: — 
E'en so. Lord Jesus, do Thou quickly come! 

I do not doubt Thy love. Thy care divine. 
Peace, joy, communion, all in Thee are mine. 
But here on earth, for sin I e'er repine; — 
E'en so. Lord Jesus, do Thou quickly come ! 

Empowered by Thee, I press through every fray, 
Thou art my strength and safeguard day by day; 
Yet long and rough and weary is the way ; — 
E'en so, Lord Jesus, do Thou quickly come! 

Blest is the Spirit's tender comforting. 
Yea, by His power, to Thee my praise I sing, 
But oh, to see Thee, Thou who art my King; — 
E'en so. Lord Jesus, do Thou quickly come! 

Haste then, dear Lord ; I long and wait for Thee, 
Come for Thine own, that I Thy face may see. 
And at Thy side, may dwell eternally ; — 
E'en so. Lord Jesus, do Thou quickly come! 

1887. 



17 



LONGINGS FOR CHRIST 

'Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see 
God." 

Jesus, Savior, I would be 
Ever holy, like to Thee; 
Free from sin of every kind, 
In Thy purity confined. 

Jesus, Savior, by Thy power. 
Cleanse and keep me, hour by hour ; 
This my longing, and my plea — 
Make me more and more like Thee. 

Jesus, Savior, by Thy grace. 
Show me thus Thy lovely face ; 
Naught between, the veil away, 
Let me gaze on Thee alway ! 

Jesus, Savior, in Thy love, 
Bring me to Thyself above, 
With Thee, like Thee, to abide, 
Face to face, and satisfied! 

1893. 



18 



OUT OF THE DEPTHS 

'Out of the depths have I cried unto thee^ 
O Lord!" 



Out of the depths, O Lord, 

I cry to Thee; 
Oh, let me hear Thy word 

Restoring me! 

Farther and farther still 
My feet have strayed. 

Downward and downward till 
I'm sore afraid. 

The way has darker grown 
And ills betide, 
I wander all alone 
With none to guide. 

Darting through chilling air, 

The lightnings flash, 
And, following fearful glare. 

Loud thunders crash. 

Beneath are chasms deep. 

And all about 
Dread demons dart and leap 

And laugh and shout. 

I try to pray — but fears 
Quench prayers in death ; 

My only prayers are tears 
And bated breath ; 

19 



But, from my stricken heart, 

Goes up a cry 
To Thee, O Lord, who art 

Watching on high : 

Out of the depths, O Lord, 

I cry to Thee; 
Make speed to help afford, 

And succor me! 



II 



Out of the depths I cried 

To God on high; 
He in His mercy wide. 

Brought mercy nigh; 

For, from His throne above, 

In power and might, 
Fell the blest words of love: — 

"Let there be light!" 

And from the darkness broke 

Before my sight — 
As the first morn awoke — 

The glory-light. 

Lifted from dread abyss 

By mighty Hand, 
I stood where sunbeams kiss 

The grass-clad land; 

Where streams flow soft and still 

And flowers bloom. 
The balmy air to fill 

With sweet perfume; 
20 



Where songs of birds are heard 

In tuneful lays, 
And grateful hearts are stirred 

To fervent praise. 

Gone was my sorrow now 

And all my fears; 
Smoothed was the troubled brow 

And dried my tears. 

Now, prayer was breathed once more, 

My sins confest, 
And could its love out-pour 

In freedom blest. 

Ah, the communion deep! 

And oh, the bliss! 
No heart could ever keep 

A joy like this! 

Praise upon praise I sang 

In notes prolonged. 
Till list'ning echoes rang 

With praises thronged. 

Out of the depths I cried 

To <jrod on high ; 
He in His mercy wide. 

Brought mercy nigh! 



1895. 



21 



COMFORTED 

"The God of all comfort, who comforteth us in 
all our tribulation." 

As a fond mother, when the daylight fades 
And evening deepens into shadowy night, 

Soothes her tired child, within the gath'ring shades, 
By lullaby and her sweet presence bright; 

So God our Father, in His wondrous grace, 
When shadowing sorrows cover all our sky, 

Draws near with tender word and shining face 
And calms our fears, while in His arms we lie. 

Then, O my Father, I would ever choose 
Whatever grief or pain Thou sendest me; 

Better o'erwhelming sorrows than to lose 
The joy of being comforted by Thee! 

1895. 

FOR ME 

"Who gave himself for me." 

On Calvary's cross my Savior died. 
With pierced hands, and feet, and side; 
For me He was the crucified; 
Even for me! 

He lay within the fast-closed tomb 
And entered Hades' prison-gloom; 
He bore for me this death and doom, 
Even for me ! 



22 



He rose triumphant o'er the grave, 
And by His high ascension gave 
The proof for me that He would save; 
Even for me 1 



Enthroned at His Father's side, 
A priest forever to abide, 
He prays for me, whate'er betide; 
Even for me ! 



For me He gave the Spirit's dower. 
That I might have His mighty power. 
And live to serve Him every hour; 
Even for me ! 



Soon He will come, and I shall be 
With Him for all eternity; 
Yea, He will come for even me; — 
Even for me! 

1895. 

MY LORD AND KING 

"Lord of lords, and King of kings. 

Jesus, my Lord and King, 
To Thee my gift I bring, 

Worthy Thou art; 
Finding in Thee my rest, 
In Thee supremely blest, 
I give Thee what is best — 

My yielded heart! 

23 



i895. 



Jesus, my Lord and King, 
Accept my offering, 

Thee I adore; 
No other lord shall be 
Lord of my life, but Thee; — 
Thou shalt reign over me, 

For evermore ! 

Jesus, my Lord and King, 
To Thee alone I cling 

For life and power ; 
Thy hand dost me uphold. 
Thine arms do me enfold, 
Thou dost give strength untold. 

For each glad hour! 

Jesus, my Lord and King, 
To Thee my praise I sing. 

Only to Thee; 
Since Thou by love divine 
Hast v^^on this heart of mine. 
Its praises shall be Thine, 

Eternally ! 

Jesus, my Lord and King, 
When I shall upward wing 

My heav'nward way. 
Low at Thy feet I'll fall, 
Thee, King of kings to call. 
And crown Thee Lord of all, 

Through endless day! 



34 



SATISFIED 
"Satisfied with favor" 

Satisfied and full of favor, 

By my King I stand, 
Having blessings without number 

From His opened hand; 
Oh, the richness of His treasure, 
Oh, the greatness of His measure. 
Oh, the fulness of my pleasure, 

As His gifts expand! 

Satisfied and full of favor. 

By my Lord Divine, 
Safe I am, His banner o'er me, 

"Love," its fair design; 
Oh, the rest of His providing. 
Oh, the peace fore'er abiding, 
Oh, the love and sweet confiding 

'Tween His heart and mine! 

Satisfied and full of favor, 

By my Lord and King, 
I would give Him gifts of praises. 

Love's best offering; 
Oh, the joy of Him adoring. 
Oh, the bliss of heart-outpouring. 
Oh, the soul's glad, free up-soaring. 

As His praise I sing! 

Satisfied and full of favor; 

In a little space, 
I shall stand still closer to Him, 

With Him face to face; 

25 



Oh, the sudden, homeward fleeting, 
Oh, the long-expected meeting, 
Oh, the rapture of the greeting, 
In that upper place! 



1896. 



EVENSONG 
"And now the eventide was come." 

The day with all its toil is ended. 
Fast fall the shades of stilly night. 

The calm of heaven with earth is blended 
And, e'en at even, it is light. 

The birds now cease their good-night singing, 
The sounds of earth fast die away, 

Soft vesper bells, their sweet notes ringing. 
Call sons of men to praise and pray. 

The cattle homeward go a-lowing. 

The bleating sheep turn toward the fold, 

Now grateful saints, their praise o'erflowing, 
Recount their mercies new and old. 

The glittering stars their watch are keeping, 
Like guardian angels hovering near. 

Sad sons of sorrow cease their weeping 
And burdened souls lose all their fear. 

Oh, day of glad and blessed ending! 

Oh, even-time of restful calm! 
May thy sweet peace from heaven descending 

Awake each eve new prayer and psalm; 

26 



Till days are past and heaven's long even 
Falls soft and sweet upon the soul, 

When, in the calm of rest full-given, 
Men voice their praise as ages roll! 

1901. 

BETHLEHEM 

"And thou, Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not 
least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee 
shall come a Governor.'' 

(After a visit to Bethlehem, one bright day in 
spring.) 



O Bethlehem, sweet Bethlehem, 
To thee my song I sing. 

To thee I raise my humble lay, 
Thou city of the King; 

Above thy courts the angels sang 
Their brightest seraph-song, 

And, faintly echoing their refrain, 
I would their praise prolong. 



11 



I see thy wide and wooded fields. 
Thy rocky slopes and hills, 

Thy valleys deeps, where waters flow 
In sparkling, tuneful rills. 

Thy balmy' air is rich with scent 
Of olive and of vine, 
27 



Thy trees hang low with ripened fruit, 
Thy vats o'erflow with wine. 

Thy shepherd boys, like David, lead 
Their flocks with winsome call 

Across the uplands bright, or through 
Deep vales where shadows fall. 

Thy dusky men and ruddy maids 
Scattered across the plain — 

Where Ruth once followed Boaz's men — 
Harvest the golden grain. 

Thy mothers hush their babes to rest 
With hymns of David's Lord, 

They sing how in yon cave He came 
To heavenly love afford; 

And all is fair and all is joy 

About thy well-kept walls ; 
Yea, sorrows never touch thy gates, 

Thy hearthstones and thy halls ; 

Beyond is darksome Calvary 

And sad Gethsemane; — 
But shadows flee, bright Bethlehem, 

When shadows come to thee! 



Ill 

Lo, as I gaze, a vision breaks; 

Behold, I see the Child 
Lie once again in cave of stone 

All pure and undefiled; 
28 



The virgin-mother bends above, 
Watching the face divine, 

From which, all fair and beautiful, 
Bright rays of glory shine; 

While holy angels, gathered round. 
With reverent, rapturous gaze. 

Bend low the knee, all worshipping, 
And chant sweet hymns of praise; 

And oh, what longings fill my soul, 

As I behold my Lord! — 
I fall and worship at His feet. 

My every sin abhorred; 

And here I pray to be like Him, 
Yea, like an infant-child. 

All meek and gentle, sweet and good. 
All pure and undefiled! 



IV 



The vision passes; — not the Christ, 
Nor Bethlehem ever blest; 

Ah, thee I love, thou city fair. 
In thee I find my rest; 

And so to thee, O Bethlehem, 

My song of love I sing; 
All praise to thee, sweet Bethlehem, 

Thou city of my King! 



1901. 



29 



ASPIRATION 

"Hope maketh not ashamed." 

I shot an arrow at the sky, 
I thought to fix it fast on high, 
I saw it downward fall, and lie 

All broken on the ground; 
But I had looked on higher things, 
My soul had risen as on wings, 
And even yet my hope upsprings 

Toward heaven's eternal bound. 

Oft-times our actions fail to rise 
To wished-for place within the skies. 
And heart is grieved, with sad surprise, 

To see them fall to earth; 
But aspiration ne'er is lost. 
Though oft with disappointment crost, 
For what is left, in spite of cost. 

Gives life a nobler worth! 



1902. 



MY PILOT 

"He will guide us over death" 

When I put out to sea. 
Into eternity, 

My Pilot will be there; 
His hand will hold the helm — 
Lest storms should overwhelm — 
Till I shall reach the realm 

Where lies my haven fair. 

30 



1902. 



Though darkness shroud the deep 
And billows toss and leap, 

I shall not be afraid; 
My Pilot knows the way 
Across the sea's highway, 
Through night, to that glad day 

Where light will never fade. 

And if, perchance, dread fear 
Shall draw a moment near, 

As storms around me roar, 
Above the night-wind's sigh, 
I'll hear my Pilot cry: 
"Fear not, for I am nigh," 

And I shall fear no more. 

The darkness overpast, 
I'll reach my port at last 

And rest in haven calm ; 
Brought safely, sweetly through, 
I'll thank my Pilot true 
And oft my thanks renew 

In praise and triumph-psalm. 

And so I wait on shore. 
My gaze fixed on before, 

Across the dark'ning wave; 
My Pilot of the sea 
Will one day call for me — 
Then I shall ready be 

And trust his power to save! 



31 



THE TRANSFORMED CLAY 

'He shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified^ and 
meet for the Master s use." 

(After seeing a potter at work in Hebron, 
Palestine.) 



A potter sat at his wheel one day, 
In a cellar both dark and cold, 

Around him in piles lay the plastic clay 
All damp and covered with mould ; 

In shapeless heaps it lay on the sand, 

Awaiting the touch of the master's hand. 

The potter's foot turned the wheel around 

Till faster and faster it flew. 
With a click and a creak and a whirring sound 

That filled all the cellar through; 
Then the potter laid hold on a mass of clay, 
Where it lay in the darkness, dull and gray. 

The potter's vision was clear and keen 
And his touch was skilful and true, 

And the clay which lay in his hands between 
He fashioned and fashioned anew. 

Till there on the wheel, before his eyes, 

A shapely vessel began to rise. 

At last the whirr of the wheel was still 
And the work of the potter was done; 

Then the vessel was placed on the outer sill 
In the light of the summer sun; 

And there the dull clay of the cellar cold 

Stood a beautiful vase, all bathed with gold. 

32 



n 



One day there was sound in the narrow street 

Of hoof and of chariot wheel, 
And the king drew near, the potters to greet 

And to ask of his people's weal. 
For none, as he, was so kind and true. 
The length and breadth of the whole land through. 

The greetings over, the king passed by. 
Then he turned toward the palace hill; — 

But he suddenly stayed, for his watchful eye 
Had seen the vase on the sill 

Where it stood in the sunlight, slender and fair, 

Finished and fashioned — a work most rare. 

The king called the potter and asked his price ; 

He paid what was asked, and much more; 
Then he hid his treasure of rich device 

In his bosom, and thus he bore 
The vase to the palace — his coveted prize. 
The joy of his heart and delight of his eyes. 

And now if you seek for the cold, dull clay, 

You must pass the old cellar by 
And go up the hill, by the king's highway, 

'Neath the light of the sunlit sky. 
Till you reach the palace of glittering stone, 
Yea, there you will find it — beside the Throne! 

1903. 



33 



LOST AND FOUND 

"Whosoever shall lose his life shall find it." 

A spring, high up upon the mountain-side 

Straight downward flowed, into the caverned 
earth, 

From thence in darkness, on and on to glide. 
To men, unseen, unknown — of nothing worth. 

But hidden there, 'twas fed by rains and snows, 
By mountain pool and flowing rivulet, 

Till in its cavern-depths its waters rose 

Flood-like 'gainst cavern-rocks to leap and fret; 

So that at last, down at the mountain's base, 
It burst its barriers, coming into light, 

A torrent-stream, downward to rush and race 
Into the plain, in dashing, rapid flight; 

Where broadening out, with slow and peaceful flow, 
It moved majestic, toward the waiting sea. 

Through peopled lands, to everywhere bestow 
The blessings of a rich fertility. 

Thus 'tis with man, if once his life is hid — 
Small though it be — within the Life Benign; 

Lost, yet not lost, 'tis found, at last, amid 
The lives which blessing need — a gift divine. 

1903. 



34 



THE TWENTY-THIRD PSALM 
"The Lord is my shepherd." 

The Lord is my Shepherd, I never shall want, 

He makes me before Him to lie, 
In pastures all verdant, of rich, tender grass. 

My hunger to well satisfy. 
By waters of stillness, He leadeth me forth 

That I may find quiet and rest; 
He restoreth my soul, and He guideth my feet 

In paths that are righteous and blest. 
Yea, though I should walk through the valley of 
death, 

I'll fear neither darkness nor ill, 
For Thou art e'er with me. Thy rod and Thy 
staff 

Will guide me and comfort me still. 
Thou preparest a table, and spreadest it full 

For me, in the sight of my foes, 
Thou anointest my head with sweet-smelling oil, 

And my cup, filled full, overflows. 
Surely goodness and mercy, attending my way. 

Will bless me, through life, o'er and o'er, 
And in the loved house of Jehovah, my King, 

I shall dwell, all secure, evermore! 

1906. 

DISCOURAGEMENT 

"O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me 
from the body of this death f" 

What now, my Soul, and hast thou sinned again, 
Thou deeply sinful, desperately wicked Soul? 

Wilt thou of sinning never have an end ? 

Wilt never let thy Maker make thee whole? 

35 



Thou seemest bound by strong iniquity, 

When thou should'st be, once and forever free. 

O Soul, wilt thou forever follow^ on, 

Like hound upon the scent, hard after sin? 

Like a wild beast, art thou insatiate? 
Like a foul demon, hast thou hell within? 

Ah, once I thought that thou might'st changed be; 

But thou dost sin, and sin continually! 

And yet, O sinful Soul, thou knowest well 
That I have struggled hard against thy reign; 

As often as I've sinned, I have resolved 

That thou should'st never rule o'er me again; 

Alas, deceitful Soul, I did not see 

That, spite of struggles, thou could'st master me! 

What can I do, my Soul? Thou art myself; 

I cannot 'scape thy presence nor thy power; 
Turn where I will, I feel thy close embrace; 

Thou pressest hard upon me, hour by hour; — 
Oh, that a Master Man might live in me; 
Then I should be the man I long to be! 

1906. 



ETERNITY 

'^But the things ivhich are not seen are eternal. 

Life is young and hearts are beating. 
Feet delight to go a-greeting, 
Joys and pleasures ever meeting; — 
But eternity! 

36 



Never sorrow, never crying, 
Never pause for even sighing. 
Who w^ould ever think of dying? — 
Yet eternity! 

Days are bright and all-entrancing, 
Hearts are light and eyes are dancing ; — 
But grim Time is e'er advancing 
Toward eternity ! 

Midst the pleasures, conscience smarting, 
Fear within the heart up-starting. 
Time is short and soon the parting. 
Then eternity! 

Months to years are ever growing, 
Feet will soon be slower going, 
Reaping always follows sowing; 
Thus eternity! 

Life will pass, for time is fleeting. 
One day there must be the meeting ; 
What will be the yonder greeting 
In eternity? 

Here the one chance for the moulding — 
Suddenly, dark Death beholding. 
Then, long ages, e'er unfolding. 
Through eternity! 

Sin is strong in its ensnaring, 
Thoughtlessness leads to despairing; — 
O my Soul, be thou preparing 
For eternity! 

1906. 

37 



RESTORED 
"He restoreth my soul." 

I find it sweet once more to rest 
On Jesu's strong and loving breast 

And know my sins forgiven; 
To be accepted in His grace, 
To be upheld by His embrace, 
To gaze upon His lovely face 

And thus reach home and heaven. 

I wandered far, in days gone by, 
No light was in my darkened sky, 

Around was storm and cold; 
And yet my heart forever yearned 
For Him whose love I oft had spurned, 
Until, all weary, I returned 

Like sheep to shelt'ring fold. 

One look into His tender eyes. 
All filled with love and glad surprise. 

And at His feet I fell; 
O'ercome with sense of sin and shame. 
Half fearing rightful scorn and blame, 
I tried my penitence to frame, 

My sin and grief to tell. 

But not a word would He allow; 
He spake, and did His love avow. 

His love for even me; 
Then, lifting me with outstretched hand. 
He made me by His side to stand; — 
Who could such wondrous grace withstand, 

A grace so rich and free? 

38 



And so, in spite of doubts and fears, 
My penitence outpoured in tears, 

I sank into His arms; 
While He close drew me to His side 
That I might there fore'er abide. 
All safe, whatever might betide, 

And free from earth's alarms. 



And so, I calmly, sweetly rest 
On Jesu's strong and loving breast, 

To wander nevermore; 
In Him I've found a perfect peace, 
A joy and love which e'er increase;— 
O Jesu, may I never cease 

Thee only to adore! 



1907. 



MAN'S LIFE 

'What is . . . life? It . . . appear eth for a little 
time, and vanisheth away" 

The sun arises from its ocean bed 

All clothed with crimson light, a radiant 
morn ; 
Flashing through air to earth its glory-red, 

It wakens men to greet the day, new-born ; — 
From off yon hearth, from newly kindled fire, 
The flames leap upward and the sparks mount 
higher. 

39 



The sun is west'ring, and is sinking low 
Behind the sea's horizon, far away, 

Now night has fallen and the night-winds blow, 
Moaning the death-song of departed day; — 

Upon the hearth gray ashes lie about; 

The last spark's vanished and the fire is out! 

1907. 



LIFE FROM DEATH 

"Though he were dead, yet shall he live." 

I strayed, all sad, into the woods one day — 

Midway between the winter and the spring — 

Around in scattered drifts the white snow lay, 
O'erhead the mournful crows were on the wing; 

All that I saw spoke of decay and death; — 

Yet zephyrs stirred soft as a maiden's breath. 

Beneath my feet the dead leaves, old and sere, 

Lay like a faded carpet, yellow-gray, 
The perished glory of another year, 

The sign that ruthless Death had passed that 
way; 
Upon the leaves dead branches lay about; — 
Yet pressing through them flowers were springing 
out. 

The trees rose up above me, gaunt and bare, 
Uplifting limbs like naked arms to heaven, 

Mutely appealing to the sun and air 

That verdure-cov'ring might to them be given; — 

And lo ! upon their branches could be seen, 

Just springing into life, buds red and green. 
40 



I sat me down upon a fallen tree, 

Made soft by moss, once green, now gray, 
To think of years, and life's mortality, 

How all things, great and small, must pass 
away ; — 
When suddenly around me, greeting spring, 
The birds burst forth in loud, sweet carolling. 

And so I learned a lesson that bright day — 
Within the wild wood dead, yet touched by 
spring — 
That all things here below will pass away, 

Yet from sad death shall new, glad life up- 
spring; 
And thus I've come to know, e'en though I die, 
That I shall live again in worlds on high. 

1907. 



CALVARY 

'The place which is called Calvary ; there 
they crucified him." 

Darkness broods o'er all the earth, 
Lo, the Man of heavenly birth 
Dies amidst the jest and mirth. 
On sad Calvary. 

Sinless Son of God is He, 
Yet He suffers agony. 
Hanging on the cursed tree, 
There on Calvary. 

Lo, His head a crown adorns — 
'Tis a cruel crown of thorns; 

41 



This the taunt of man who scorns, 
This, and Calvary! 

See Him suffering there alone, 
Hear the bitter cry and moan 
That for sin He may atone. 
On dark Calvary. 

Sinks the sun within the west, 
Sinks His head upon His breast, 
Dies the Man, by men unblest; 
Cruel Calvary! 

Oh, the darkness of the day, 
Oh, the bitter, bitter way. 
As grim Death makes Christ his prey; 
Awful Calvary! 

So they lay Him in the grave, 
Him, who gave His life to save. 
Him, who all His foes forgave. 
On sweet Calvary. 

There they lay Him, with my sin, 
There they seek to keep Him in, 
That He may no vict'ry win. 
Through blest Calvary. 

But in vain; no death can part 
Him and my adoring heart; 
Savior, King, O Christ, Thou art! — 
Precious Calvary! 



1907. 



42 



EASTER I 

"He is not here^ but is risen" " j 

O soul of mine, awake, awake, ' 

Slumber no more for Christ's dear sake, 1 

Behold the glorious light doth break | 

Of a new Easter day! I 

Come forth ; — but not with fear and dread, | 

The darkness of the night has fled ; I 

Seek not the Living 'midst the dead, ] 

On this glad Easter day! 'j 

1 

Bring not the spices, sweet and rare, j 

Behold the grave — Christ is not there, j 

He has arisen, fresh and fair, ' 

Like this bright Easter day ! i 

Nay, linger not beside the tomb; i 

Christ rose from out the morning's womb ' 

To scatter Death's o'ershadowing gloom; \ 
Now shines the Easter day ! 

I 

I 

Yea, shine, bright sun, blow, balmy breeze, ; 

Spring, flowers and shrubs and buds on trees ? 

Sure token of Christ's power are these, •! 

On this. His Easter day! } 



Hark, 'tis the Christ who to thee cries, j 

He calls thee to the radiant skies; ( 

O heart of mine, arise, arise, ; 

To heaven's sweet Easter day ! i 



43 



Glad Easter day, so fair and bright, 
So full of glory and of might; 
O Christ, Thou art its life and light; — 
Hail, blessed Easter day! 
1907. 

SPIRITUAL CONFLICT 

"The flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit 
against the flesh." 

(After seeing Barnard's statue, "The Two 
Natures.") 

Down, deeper down, thou sinful, sensual Self, 
Back to low earth from which thou would'st 
arise, 

Thou robber-fiend, keep thine ill-gotten pelf 
Of my misdeeds, it is thy lawful prize; 

But henceforth know thou shalt not rule o'er me, 

For a sweet Voice calls me to victory. 

Up, higher up, thou better, nobler one, 

Rise up in strength, with face turned toward the 
skies, 
Faint not, nor fear, the conflict will be won. 

Behold, before thee is the victor's prize; 
Thy God who calleth thee will strength maintain 
And turn all earthly loss to heavenly gain. 

1907. 



44 



FRIENDSHIP 

"There is a friend that sticketh closer than a 
brother." 

To have a friend who follows all my thought 
As it may vagrant roam from earth to heaven, 
Who there will hold it fast, until its leaven 

Is purged away, by purer word in-wrought; 

To have him understand when words have failed 
To make my better, nobler meaning plain; 
Who, when I'm silent, will his words restrain 

And show by look that silence hath availed; 

To know that he, if others adulate. 

Will dare to warn of pride's presumptuous sin, 
That he will speak of love, when others hate. 

That he, to his strong self, my soul may win: 
Such friendship do I crave till life shall end ; 
And such I have — in Jesus Christ, my Friend! 

1907. 



A DAY DREAM 

"Godliness with contentment is great gain!' 

A little village 'neath the sheltering hills. 
Beside a harbor where ships safely lie. 
Where humble toil man's humble need fulfils, 
Where life goes calmly on as days go by; 
Where hearts are never old. 
Where love is never cold. 
Where joys are simple, sweet. 
Where rest is deep, complete; — 
There would I live and die. 

45 



To be as one amongst such simple folk, | 

Myself most blessed, and yet a blessing too, I 

Bearing with young and old life's daily yoke, i 

Having the daily, kindly task to do ; j 

Healing the wound that smarts, i 

Soothing sad, sorrowing hearts, | 

Guiding in paths untrod, ] 

Leading tired souls to God; — \ 

Thus would I live and die. ] 

* 

A humble village, where, when work is done, ^ 

One may, without regret, in quiet be, ; 

Watching, all peaceful, life's slow-setting sun ^ 

Shed golden glory over land and sea; ] 

Hearing the evening bell ] 

Its rhythmic story tell 1 

Of life beyond the west, I 

Of heavenly home and rest; — 

There would I live and die. 

1907. j 



WEEPING 

"Weeping may endure for a niffht, but joy cometh 
in the morning." 

(To a friend in deep sorrow.) 

Weep, sorrowing one, for God would have thee 
weep ; 
He did not make thee stone, but very man, 
Yea, He did form thy soul a fountain deep, 
Seek not to close it up, weep whilst thou caif, 
Yea, weep and weep, weep tears on tears until 
Thy weeping heart has ta'en its bitter fill. 
46 



Ne'er think thy weeping sin, since Christ did weep, 
Who held His life in such long, strong re- 
straint ; — 
Mark there, at Lazarus' tomb, how tears upleap, 
Hear yonder Garden's mournful bitter plaint; 
Then sorrow not if grief thine eyes bedim; 
As Master, so disciple; — weep with Him. 

And yet this learn, weep not amidst the crowd; 

Weeping is sacred; shut thy closet door; 
There, only there, put on thy mourner's shroud 
Where thou may'st speak with Christ and help 
implore ; 
Then, on the breast of Him who weeps with 

thee 
Pour out thy sorrow's bitterest agony. 

And grieve not Christ ; — weep not as without hope ; 

Despair is trustlessness, and, therefore, sin; 
However deep thy darkness, never grope, 
Lift up thine head and see the Light within; 
Weep on, beloved, weep till sorrow's end. 
But ne'er forget that Christ is thy good Friend. 

Weep, sorrowing one, but e'er remember this: 
Weeping shall not endure beyond the night; 
There is in store for thee a rapturous bliss, 

God's joy will greet thee with the morning light; 
Ay, in that morn, no heart will moan or cry, 
For God's own hand will wipe each weeping 



eye 



1907. 



47 



PRAYER 

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man 
availeth much" 

To worship Him who is my Father-God, 
In the all-worthy name of Christ, the Son, 
Through the blest Spirit, ever Holy One, 

Bowing the knee, with heart all hushed and awed; 

To come to Him, confessing all my sin, 

And seek forgiveness, through the precious blood, 
To ask that He, in love's o'erflowing flood, 

Will bless my needy life, without, within; 

To intercede for all my kinsmen, friends, 
For the elect who love our Savior-Lord, 

For the great world, e'en to its farthest ends, 
That Christ may be by men obeyed, adored ; 
And then to praise, always and everywhere; — 
Be this my fervent and effectual prayer! 

1907. 



REQUIEM 

'JVe groan within ourselves, waiting for 
the adoption." 

The days axe hasting, hasting. 

They pass away. 
The years are wasting, wasting, 

They will not stay. 

My life is going, going, 

'Twill soon be done. 
Like rivers, flowing, flowing. 

To oceans run. 

48 



Life's sun is sinking, sinking, 

In dark'ning west, 
And I am shrinking, shrinking, 

From earth's cold breast. 



The end is nearing, nearing, 

It comes on wing. 
My heart is fearing, fearing, 

What death will bring. 

Soon I'll be dying, dying, 

O God, be nigh, 
And hear my crying, crying, 

My last, faint sigh; 

And grant that, sleeping, sleeping, 

I'll wake again, 
With no more weeping, weeping. 

And no more pain! 



1907. 



PEACE 
''The peace of God." — "The God of peace" 

A forest dim and grand, with mile on mile 
Of tangled undergrowth and arching trees, 
Where sunlight rests upon the matted leaves 
But never reaches earth to flowers beguile; 
There footsteps never fell 
To break the silent spell. 
There always, all around 
Is stillness deep, profound; — 
And there is peace. 

y 49 



An ocean's wide expanse, with leagues untold 
Of untracked waters, 'neath a tropic sun, 
Where every passing day, till day is done. 
The sea lies glittering bright, like burnished gold; 
There storm-winds never blow, 
There storm-waves never flow, 
There crystal waters lie 
Beneath a cloudless sky; — 
And there is peace. 

A lake half-hidden near a mountain's crest. 
Surrounded by great trees with foliage bright. 
O'er which the wild-duck wings his circling 
flight. 
Near which the eagle builds his lofty nest; 
There, 'neath the sun's bright beam, 
Wavelets like jewels gleam. 
There, lilies white and rare 
Perfume the still soft air; — 
And there is peace. 

A heart all-sensitive, midst city din. 

Pressed hard upon by selfish, jostling crowds, 
Touched by dark lives which wickedness en- 
shrouds. 
Forced always, everywhere, to look on sin; 
Yet kept by God's great power. 
Rejoicing hour by hour. 
Uplifting prayer and psalm. 
Dwelling in heav'nly calm; — 
Ah, there is peace! 

1907. 



50 



PILGRIMAGE 

'The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a 
broken he art. ^' 

(In imitation of old English poetry.) 

I went on pilgrimage one day 
To find my Lord, the King, 

For I had lost Him in the way 
Where worldlings laugh and sing. 

Alas! I'd wandered with the throng 

Which make life holiday, 
And in my mirth had joined their song 

And sung their roundelay. 

But when my mirth was fully past 
And all my singing done — 

For careless laughter does not last 
And songs die with the sun — 

I turned to find my Savior, Lord, 
And walk with Him again; — 

Ah me, He'd gone whom I adored, 
I knew not where, nor when! 

For I had grieved Him to the heart 
By all my thoughtless way, 

And He had turned, and gone apart, 
While I kept holiday. 

And so I went on pilgrimage 

To seek my Savior, Lord ; 
Naught else could lonely grief assuage, 

Naught else could peace afford. 

51 



I sought Him in the palace proud, 

Within the hovel rude, 
I sought Him in the city's crowd, 

In desert solitude; 



I sought Him in the mart and fair. 
In church and cloister dim, 

I sought Him, calling everywhere 
For Him, and only Him; 

I sought, and found not, night and day, 
Till strength and hope were gone, 

Then, falling to the ground, I lay 
With hidden face thereon; 

And there beneath the heavy stroke 

Of loneliness and fear. 
My heart with pain and sorrow broke. 

And fell the bitter tear: — 



When suddenly I heard a voice 
Like that I'd known of yore; 

I turned and heard one say, "Rejoice, 
And sorrow never more!" 

And lo, 'twas Christ, my Lord and King, 
Whom I had sought in vain; 

Ah, how my -heart with joy did sing. 
While tears fell fast like rain! ^ 

For He had come on pilgrimage 

To find His erring child. 
My sorrow to fore'er assuage 

By His forgiveness mild. 

52 



And so He found me in mj?^ woe;- 
He did not seek in vain: — 

O Jesu, may / never go 
On pilgrimage again! 



1907. 



THE HIGHLANDS 

"Our citizenship is in heaven" 

(After reading Burns's "My Heart's in the 
Highlands.") 

Oh, my heart is in the Highlan's 

O' the far and fair countree 
Where the King is waitin', waitin' 

For His ain, and e'en for me; 
There He reigns in a' His glory, 

I shall see Him ane sweet day, 
When He ca's me to the Highlan's 

Wi' Himself for aye to stay. 

Ah, my heart was in the Lowlan's 

In the aulden, aulden time. 
Midst the vapors and the shadows 

O' the lower, baser clime; 
But the heavenly Man He sought me 

An' He deed for me straightwa'; 
Then He ga'ed back to the Highlan's 

An' He bore my heart awa'. 

Oh, I love the bonnie Highlan's, 
Wi' its pure an' caller air, 

Wi' its green fields an' its flowers 
An' its fragrance everywhere; 

53 



Ay, there's no place like the Highlan's 
For the soul frae sin set free, 

'Tis a Ian' o' wondrous beauty, 
'Tis the winsome Ian' to me. 

There's a palace in the Highlan's 

An' it glistens wi' the licht, 
For the sun is ever shinin' 

An' there's never, never nicht, 
An' there's music in the palace 

Sweeter far than a' the soun' 
That e'er greets the list'nin' dwellers 

On the lower, Lowlan' groun'. 

An' enthroned within the palace 

Is the King sae pure and fair, 
Wi' His garments a' aglist'nin' 

An' wi' shinin', snawy hair, 
Wi' His face sae bricht, resplendent — 

'Bune the brichtness o' His croun — 
That before Him a' the angels 

An' archangels fa' adoun. 

Oh, my heart is in the Highlan's, 

Sae then dinna bid me stay. 
For I canna but be hamesick 

For its gowden, blythesome day; 
Ay, Fm wearyin' for its beauty. 

An' its licht that ne'er grows dim, 
For the Ane wha's a' its glory 

An' a lastin' sicht o' Him! 



1907. 



54 



SLUMBER SONG 

"Thy sleep shall be sweet." 
(On seeing a young child asleep.) 

Sleep, sleep, my darling child, 
My own, my undefiled, 

Sleep on, sleep on; 
Thine eyes must open soon 
Upon life's glaring noon. 
Sleep then until the day, 
Sleep on while yet you may, 

Sleep, sleep, my sweet, sleep on. 

Sleep, sleep, my precious one, 
Till hours of sleep are done, 

Sleep on, sleep on; 
Thy feet have far to go 
Through paths of toil and woe. 
Thou needest strength on strength. 
Then sleep, my child, at length, 

Sleep, sleep, my sweet, sleep on. 

Sleep, sleep, my babe adored. 
May sleep sweet dreams afiord, 

Sleep on, sleep on; 
Dreams of a land afar 
Past shining moon and star, 
Visions all fair and bright, 
Outlasting darkest night. 

Sleep, sleep, my sweet, sleep on. 

Sleep, sleep, thou child of love. 
Thy God doth watch above, 
Sleep on, sleep on; 

55 



His eye will never sleep, 
He will forever keep, 
Thou needest not to fear 
For thou art ever dear. 

Sleep, sleep, my sweet, sleep on. 



1908. 



PRAISE 

"Giving thanks always" 

Do you hear the angels singing 

Up on high? 
Do you hear their voices ringing 
Through the sky? 
Oh, the fulness of their song 
As their praises they prolong. 
Yea, the voices of that choir 
Never tire! 

Do you hear the saints all praising 

Round the throne? 
Do you hear them hymns upraising. 
One by one? 
Praising is their glad delight 
So they rest not day nor night. 
Crying, "Holy!" o'er and o'er. 
Evermore ! 

Do you hear the saints adoring 

Here below? 
Do you hear them praise outpouring 

Midst earth's woe? 

, 56 



Hark, they sing their sweet refrain 
Through their joy and through their pain, 
Praising, ever, in their love, 
God above! 

Oh, then, add your note, rejoicing. 

To the praise. 
Thanks to God for all things voicing. 
Through the days; 
Till the earthly singing's done, 
Till the heavenly is begun. 
Till the anthem, round Christ's feet, 
Sw^ells complete! 

1908. 

A PRAYER 

"Give ear to my prayer, O God!" 

O Thou vi^ho hearest prayer, 
Always and everyw^here, 
Remerab'ring how men fare; 
Who, though Thou art on high, 
Hearest Thy children cry 
And drawest ever nigh; 
Hear Thou my prayer, this day — 
Draw near me in life's way, 
Be Thou my strength and stay; 
From blinding sin set free. 
May I Thy footsteps see 
And ever follow Thee; 
On through the length'ning years. 
On, spite of foes and fears, 
On through the vale of tears ; 

57 



i9o8. 



Till the last hour has come, 
Till sinks life's setting sun, 
Till the long journey's done; 
So may I end my days. 
Then be with Thee always, 
Where prayer is turned to praise: — 
Amen! 



HAVE WE FORGOT 



"Now, therefore, why speak ye not a word of bring- 
ing the King backf" \ 

(After attending a great missionary convention in • 

which no reference was made to the return of , 
the Lord.) 

The King went forth a kingdom to obtain, i 
With promise to His own to come again; 
The long, long years have passed, the years of pain, 
And yet He cometh not; — 

Have we forgot? \ 

i 

He bade us keep our hearts forever pure, \ 

And, following Him, to suffer and endure, ] 

That we to Him might weary men allure | 

And He might tarry not; — i 

Have we forgot? \ 



He asked us for Himself to wait and long. 
To turn our faces from the worldly throng 
Upward to Him, to whom our lives belong; 
And yet He hast'neth not; — 
Have we forgot? 

58 



i 

And thus the days go by; we joy and sing, ; 

We take His gifts — yet little to Him bring ' 

And speak no word of bringing back the King; { 

And so He cometh not — 1 

We have forgot! '; 

O Christ our King, forgive us this our sin, ; 
And help us, henceforth, many lives to win, 

That we may haste to bring Thy kingdom in; — i 

And oh, forget us not > 

Though we've forgot ! ;' 

1908. i 



EARTH BOUND 

"Ohj that I had wings like a dove, for then woicld 
I fly aw ay J and be at rest!" 

I cannot rise 
To wished-for place within the skies 
But I am left to stand 
Upon this clod-heaped land, 
Pressed down with burd'ning discontent 
Because of earth's environment. 
Destined to die and sleep 
Beneath the sod, so deep 
That soon the earth will hold 
'< Myself turned into mold; 

Taken from dust I must . 

Return, at last, to dust. 
The eagle cleaves the topmost sky, 
The gull spreads forth his wings on high, 
E'en tiny insects mount on strong, swift wings 
And look down, from their height, on earthly things ; 

59 



Yet I, a man, 
But can 

Walk heavy-footed on this lower earth, 
Longing and waiting for a higher birth. 
If I had wings 
Like the sweet lark that sings, 
And as he sings, soars out of sight, 

I should take flight 
And rise into the heavenly blue; 
This I should do 
Because I long 
To learn the heavenly song 
Which those can never know 
Who grovel here below; 
Yet here on earth I walk 
To envy e'en some carrion hawk, 
A common thing 
And yet on wing. 
With wings outspread 
Above my head! 
Oh, to cast off this heavy weight 
Which keeps me in this lower state; 
Oh, for strong power to rise and rise 
To longed-for place in upper skies! 
Hark to the birds on high 
Which heavenward fly; 
Hark to the glad, pulsating song 
Which they in upper skies prolong; 
But I can never with them sing 
Since I am not on wing; 
I can but moan and wait, 
Disconsolate : — 
And lo, the turtle-dove moans with me from his 

nest ; 
Had I but wings I too should fly away and be at 
rest! 

1908. 

60 



MY CREED 



"Lordj I believe, help thou mine unbelief" I 

■] 

That God doth live, enthroned in heaven above, 

Existing in three persons, and yet One, \ 

The everlasting Father, Spirit, Son, j 

Whom I may w^orship and forever love ; 1 

That Jesus died for me on Calvary's tree ] 

And then ascended to His Father's throne, 
Thenceforth to ever intercede for me 

Until He comes to gather home His ovi^n; j 

That God hath sent the Holy Spirit down 1 

To keep, to guide, to sanctify, to bless, \ 

So I may wear, at last, a victor's crown | 

And reign with Christ, who will my name con- ; 

f ess ; \ 

This — 'spite of sin and doubt's o'ershadowing \ 

_ grief— ^ j 

This I believe ; Lord, help mine unbelief ! ;' 

1908. ; 



AFTERWARD 

Wo chastening . . . seemeth joyous; nevertheless 
afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of right- 
eousness" 

Rain, rain 
Beating against the pane; 
How endlessly it pours, 

Out of doors. 
From the blackened sky; — 

I wonder why! 
61 



Flowers, flowers 
Upspringing after showers, 
Blossoming fresh and fair, 

Everywhere ; — 
Ah, God has explained 

Why it rained! 



1908. 



GOLDEN ROD 

"He hath made everything beautiful in his time." 

Only a weed, they say, and I suppose 'tis true. 
But O, sweet golden rod, I would I were like you, 
Gladd'ning strained, weary eyes along the dusty 

ways, 
Standing all strong and fresh through long, hot 

autumn days. 
And wearing for bright attire the sunlight's glori- 
ous hue; — 
Ah me, sweet golden rod, would God I were like 
you! 

1908. 

SHADOWS 
"Until . . . the shadows flee away." 

The springtime sun burst forth to-day 
After the long, dull winter's cold. 

Upon the hardened ground it lay 
Like furnace-glowing, radiant gold, 
62 



It warmed the earth where snow had lain 
And following after springtime rain, 
It wooed a new life from the old. 

The springtime buds sprang forth to-day 
On plants and vines and shrubs and trees, 

^yhile the glad birds sang roundelay 
Amidst the droning of the bees; 

Flowers, 'neath the sunlight's golden dower. 

Burst forth within a single hour 

To cast sweet fragrance on the breeze. 

All the great world is bright to-day 
And every living thing is glad, 

For springtime warmth has come to stay 
That all the earth may be new-clad; — 

Alas, alas, in spite of spring, 

I cannot joy, I cannot sing. 

Somehow my heart is dark and sad ! 

Oh, shame, thrice shame, upon this day 
When there is beauty everywhere. 

When all the world is blithe and gay 
And sunlight flashes through the air. 

That shadows o'er my heart should lie — 

As clouds o'ershade a sunlit sky — 
Turning my joy to dark despair! 

Rise, rise, bright Sun, rise high to-day — 
Thou brighter Sun than that I see. 

Chase all my darkness far away 
And let Thy radiance fall on me ; 

Then shall my heart be glad and sing. 

Then shall I joy with everything. 
And shadows will forever flee ! 

1908. 

63 



SUBMISSION 
"Thy will be done." 

(After seeing Hofmann's picture, "Christ 
in Gethsemane.") 

Jesus Christ, Thou suffering Man of prayer, 
Help me in prayer Thy sufferings to share. 
That, learning at Thy side, on bended knee. 
The deep, sweet lesson of Gethsemane, 

1 may repeat with Thee — the vict'ry won — 
"Not my will, Father, but Thy will be done!" 

1908. 



WEARINESS 

'There the weary are at rest. 

Years ! 
And also fears; 
The way is long. 
The battle's to the strong. 
And I am weak; 
I dare not seek 
For many years ! 

Years ! 
Ay, also tears; 
I have been glad. 
But far more often sad; 
Now life's far past 
And what will last 
Are wearier years! 

64 



Years ! i 

The way appears i 

A way of gloom; j 

There seems no resting room i 

In life below; ' 

Hence, tears will flow j 

For better years! ] 

Years ! ; 

Christ only cheers; ', 

When I shall stand . | 

Safe home at His right hand, j 

Then it will be \ 

That I shall see j 

The joy of years! j 

1 

) 

Years ! ; 

Life disappears! — j 

Ay, let it go ;, 

That I may sooner know I 

The bliss of rest | 

Among the blest i 

Through heav'nly years! \ 

1908. \ 



THROUGH DEATH TO LIFE 

'Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one 
of these" 

Lo, a lily-blade is springing 
Through the soil of Galilee, 

Into beauteous life upspringing, 
Into joy and ecstasy; — 

"Oh," it cries, "how glad the hour 

When my leaf will turn to flower." 

65 



i9o8. 



Lo, a lily-flower is standing 

In a glade of Galilee, 
With its petals wide expanding, 

Sweet in whitest purity; — 
"Oh," it cries, "to stand fore'er. 
Blooming thus, all bright and fair!" 

Lo, a lily-flower is dying 

In a Hand in Galilee, 
While a sweet-toned Voice is crying 

In divinest sympathy : — 
"Solomon was ne'er arrayed 
Like this lily of the glade!" 

So the lily died to living 

In the vale of Galilee, 
Yea, it died — its sweet life giving 

To the Man of charity; 
Then the Man, upon that day, 
Smiled upon it where it lay! 

Now the lily lies forsaken 

In the dust of Galilee, 
Never will its life awaken, 

It has died eternally; — 
Yet this lily of the glade 
Lives as none God ever made! 



66 



ENSLAVED 
'A bond-slave of Jesus Christ.' 



I went into the fields one day 
In the sweet beauty of the spring, 

My heart was light and glad and gay 
And thus I fell to carolling. 

I sang of skies of radiant blue, 
Of fleecy clouds and balmy air, 

Of leaf and grass of softest hue. 
Of fragrant flowers divinely fair; 

Of great-winged birds afloat on high. 
Of song-birds warbling in the trees, 

Of bright-hued insects darting by 
Of the low drone of swarming bees. 

And then I sang, as sang the birds 
Which soared within the heavenly 
blue. 
In loudest, most triumphant words 
The sweetest song my full heart 
knew. 

Of life's glad freedom, now and aye, 
Which stirs the heart to joy and sing. 

Which makes life one long holiday 
And sets the lips to carolling. 

"Free, free," I sang, "forever free. 
The slave of no one, God or man, 

Myself a king, at liberty. 

My kingdom all mine eye doth scan!" 

67 



II 



But suddenly my singing ceased, 
For there beside the verdant field, 

In midst of crowd — which e'er increased — 
A journeying Stranger was revealed. 

He walked along the dusty way 
With smiling face and gentle eye, 

He seemed to hear what each did say 
And seemed to catch the faintest sigh ; 

And, now and then, He paused to touch 
Some body racked with piercing pain, 

And often He would speak to such 

As seemed fast-bound by Satan's chain ; 

Then, as He passed. He looked on me — 
He spake no word, He made no sign — 

But smiled in tenderest sympathy 

And fixed His yearning eyes on mine; 

And somehow — how I do not know — 
I joined the throng in dusty way 

And followed Him, not fast nor slow. 
But e'er beside Him, day by day; 

And somehow — how I cannot tell — 
The toilsome way seemed sweet to me, 

Sweeter by far than dale and dell 
And greenest fields might ever be; 

And so, once more, my heart did sing — 
Ay, as it never sang before — 

And thus I fell to carolling 

Of Him whom now I did adore; 
68 



And this is what my lips did sing ' 

E'en as I walked in crowded way: — ) 

"I am a slave of Christ my King, I 

A captive-slave, for now and aye; ! 

I 

"For I have found eternal rest { 

In trusting His eternal word, j 

And I have found my life full blest ] 

In hailing Him as Savior-Lord." ; 

So now I follow, on and on, j 

Beside the Christ, in dusty way; 

Green fields and liberty are gone — j 

But life is one long holyday! j 



1908. 



THE NAME 

'God also hath given hhn a name which is above 
every name." 

There is a name, a wondrous name, 

Of infinite and endless fame, 

By God beloved, by saints revered, 

By angels and archangels feared. 

Ordained of God 'fore world began, 

Revealed by angels unto man. 

Proclaimed by men, believed, adored, 

By hearts in prayer and praise outpoured, 

The theme of prophet, priest and king. 

The word of which sweet psalmists sing, 

By pilgrims blessed, by sufE'rers sung, 

The last word breathed by martyr's tongue. 

69 



The name most precious and sublime, 
Supreme in space, supreme in time, 
Destined to live and conquer all 
Till all knees everywhere shall fall 
And tongues confess — what God proclaims- 
This name to be the Name of names. 
The name which in high heaven will be 
The One Name of eternity; — 
Then, O my soul, its praise forthtell, 
Jesus — the name ineffable! 



1908. 



HEART-BREAK 



'I adjure you . . . if ye find my beloved that ye 
tell him that I am sick from love." 

I have lost my Love to-day, 
Lost Him in the crowded way, 

While I turned aside to see 
Life in its festivity; — 

Oh, to look into His face 

And to find His pard'ning grace! 

Ah, my heart, how fair this world 
When its beauties are unfurled. 

How they glitter, dazzle, blind. 

How they 'snare the heart and mind ! — 

Tell me, and oh, tell me true. 

Has my Love been seen by you? 

I did take my wanton way 

With the throngs all through the day, 

Seeking pleasures, sweet and rare, 
Joyful, without thought or care; 

70 



Now 'tis night; — oh, can you tell 
Where my grieved Love doth dwell? 

Days are long and full of light, 
Pleasures sweet and joyance bright; 

But the night, how dark and drear 
And how full of dread and fear! — 

Oh, that I could find my Love, 

Then I would no longer rove! 

If you see my Love, do you 
Tell Him that my love is true, 

That grief's tears my eyes bedim 
And I seek and call for Him; — 

Will you, in sweet charity, 

Help to find my Love for me? 

Ah, I wander all alone — 
Would I could for sin atone, 

I would give my very heart, 
With my very life would part. 

If in giving, dying I 

Might but find my Love were nigh! 

Hear me. Love — I cry, I moan. 
Thee I long for, Thee alone; 

If Thou wilt return to me 

I will never part from Thee; — 

Hear me all, below, above. 

Tell my Love, I die from love! 



1908. 



71 



COMMUNION HYMN 

"This do in remembrance of me" 

O my soul, do thou keep silence, 
Here thou meetest with thy God, 

Come and feast, in sweet reliance. 
But with spirit bowed and awed; 

Hush the voice and still the mind, 

Here thou wilt thy Savior find. 

O my soul, do thou remember 

This is sacred, holy ground, 
Sign of when Christ's every member 

On the cruel cross was found, 
There He died in agony; — 
Come, then, humbly, gratefully. 

O my soul, be thou preparing. 
It is Christ who welcomes thee. 

Richest blessing with thee sharing. 
Foretaste of eternity; 

He doth grant thee heavenly food, 

Giving thee His flesh and blood. 

O my soul, thy sins forsaking 
In remembrance of Christ's love, 

From this food new vigor taking, 
Set thy face toward things above; 

Christ is here thy life to win, 

And to free thee from all sin. 

O my soul, feast on, believing. 
Eat the bread and drink the wine. 

In these tokens Christ perceiving. 
Worship Him, and make Him thine; — 
72 



Then arise with grateful song ' 

Since thou dost to Christ belong! I 

1908. ' 1 



OUR FATHERLAND 



'Thine eyes . . . shall behold the land that is very 
far off." 

(Suggested by Zinzendorf's hymn, "Jesus, Still 
Lead On.") 

Christ will lead us on 

Till our life is done; 
He from evil will defend us, 
In all trials will befriend us, 

Till our feet shall stand 

In our Fatherland. 

Christ will make our way 

Bright as noontide day; 
He will ever walk beside us, 
He will lead and He will guide us, 

Till we reach the strand 

Of our Fatherland. 

Christ will give us cheer 

E'en when foes are near; 
With His strength He will surround us, 
Yea, when doubt doth most confound us 

He will point His hand 

To our Fatherland. 

Christ, in death's dark vale. 
Will for us prevail; 

73 



By His arm He will sustain us, 
In His peace He will maintain us, 

Till the scenes expand 

Of our Fatherland. 

Christ will bring us where 

We His joy shall share; 
There His power will e'er uphold us. 
There His love will e'er enfold us. 

When our feet shall stand 

In our Fatherland! 



1908. 



THE CALL OF THE EAST 

'There are . . . ?nany voices in the world. 

Do you hear the East a-calling, 

Day by day? 
Do you hear its plaint a-falling, 

Far away? 
Crying out, since sore distrest, 
Pleading, pleading to be blest. 
Needy East to tardy West ; — 

"Do not stay!" 

See, the peach-trees high a-growing. 

Fresh and fair ; 
See, the cherry blossoms blowing 

Through the air ; 
Lo, the spices breathe forth balm. 
Sweet the shade of fronded palm, 
In the bright, warm tropic calm, 

Over there. 

74 



Hark, the sound of merry laughter, 

Bright and clear, 
Happy tale, and then the after 

Happier .cheer; 
Boys and girls with sparkling eyes, 
Women showing glad surprise. 
Men more grave, since gravely wise, 

Far and near. 

But beneath the beauteous brightness, 

Dark and death. 
And behind the heart's glad lightness. 

Bated breath; — 
Ah, they bow to gods of stone 
Which for sin can ne'er atone; 
Hear ye not the cry and moan. 

As God saith? 

Yea, the East is calling, calling 

'Cross the seas, 
For the shadows are a-falling 

As life flees ; 
Dark the day, in spite of light, 
Darker still the long-drawn night, 
Shadows sinful souls affright. 

Such as these. 

Coming, coming, I am coming, 

I'll not stay. 
Love shall conquer fear benumbing, 

I'll away; — 
Yea, the East shall meet the West, 
Hear, O East, thou shalt be blest, 
Jesus yet will give thee rest; 

Wondrous day ! 

1908. 

75 



THE WOODMAN'S SONG 

"The trees . . . which the Lord hath planted/^ 

Let all who will walk the city street 

And gaze on the high house walls, 
Their only music the beat of their feet 

And the sound of the huckster's calls; 
Give me the woods which the Lord has made, 

With its vines and its leaves of green 
And the birds a-carolling in the shade 

And the glint of the sun's bright sheen. 

Do you want a cathedral with towers and spires? 

Do you look for a cloister dim? 
Do you long for voices and virgin choirs. 

And God — and a sight of Him? 
Come out of the city which man has made 

And dwell in' the wild-wood fair 
Beneath the trees of the glen and the glade — 

You will find what you seek for there. 

I grant that it's true that God does dwell 

With men in the stone-built town. 
And that He hears when the anthems swell 

In cathedrals of great renown; 
But I choose to worship in village church 

And then to walk in the glade 
Where you find God near, though you do not 
search. 

In the woods which His hands have made. 

Oh, the wave in the corn in the clearing round 
As it bends 'fore the summer breeze, 

Oh, the shadows cast on the grass-clad ground 
By the swaying limbs of the trees, 

76 



Oh, the arching branches above your head 

And the long vines swinging by, 
Oh, the sunlit leaves, some green, some red, 

And the glimpse of the azure sky! 

Oh, the soft, gray moss beneath your feet 

And the near-by ferns, bright green. 
Oh, the tunes of the song-birds, clear and sweet. 

And the squirrel's sharp chatter between. 
Oh, the soft, low voice of the babbling brook 

As it glides through the glade and the glen;- 
Ah, here is God's church, and here is a book 

Which His hand has writ large for men! 

Then make the city of stone your home 

If such be your mind and choice, 
But let me out in the wild-woods roam 

Where my worshipping heart may rejoice ; 
Yea, let me abide 'neath the arching trees 

With their heads held up to the sky; 
And oh, — 'neath their fallen, covering leaves 

Do you lay me down when I die! 

1908. 



THE VIRGIN'S MEDITATION 

'Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul 
also." 

The shadows fall on the silent earth 

As the sun sinks low in the west. 
And I hold my Babe of the heavenly birth. 

His head laid soft on my breast; 
Sleep, sleep, my Child; — aye, the shadows fall 
And lie on the earth like a heavy pall! 

77 



The dove is making his sad lament 
In the oak on the crest of the hill, 

And the olive-trees, by the night-winds bent, 
Sing a requiem, loud and shrill; 

But sleep, my Child, sleep still and deep; — 

It is not Thy time to lament and weep! 

The wind blows cold from the great, wide sea, 
And the waves beat hard on the shore; 

Ah, I saw the lightning flash o'er Thee, 
And hark, how the thunders roar; 

Stir not, my Child, not yet is pain; — 

But forgive if my teardrops fall like rain! 

The night creeps on, the dark'ning night, 
And my heart is o'erwhelmed with fear; 

Hush, hush, my Child, soon cometh light. 
And Thy Father is ever near; — 

But God, O God, grant me Thy power 

Till past is the pain of that awful hour! 

1908. 



THE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY- 
FIRST PSALM 

''Shall I lift up mine eyes unto the hills f 

Shall I lift up my longing eyes 

Unto the hills around? 
From whence shall come my needed help. 

Where shall my aid be found? 
From God, the Lord, come help and aid. 
Who hath the earth and heaven made. 

78 



He will not let thy foot be moved, 
For He that keepeth thee 

Will never slumber, yea, the Lord 
Will never weary be; 

Lo, He that Israel's tribes doth keep 

Shall never slumber, never sleep. 

The Lord's thy keeper. Lo, He is 
Thy shade on thy right hand. 

Nor sun nor moon shall ever smite, 
For He will by thee stand; 

He shall preserve thee, and control, 

Yea, He shall ever guard thy soul. 

The Lord, in all thy going out, 

In all thy coming in. 
Shall keep thee safe from every harm, 

Preserving thee from sin; 
Yea, day and night, till life is o'er. 
From henceforth, and forevermore! 

1908. 

A HEART WISH 

"My heart's desire and prayer" 

That I may know, yet more and more, 
The love of God, whom I adore; 
That I may be, increasingly. 
The man that He would have me be; 
That, loved and kept, I may find grace 
To serve before Him, face to face; 
And that, at last, my great reward 
May be the "Well done!" of my Lord; 
This is my wish; — may all beside 
Be on yon cross, and crucified! 

1908. 

79 



COMPENSATION 

"Nevertheless J afterward!" 

The year is slowly, sadly dying — , 

Let it die! 
Dead leaves on withered flowers are lying — 
Let them lie! 
Were there no autumn, there would be no spring 
And hearts midst springtime joys would never sing! 

My life is surely, sadly ending — 

Let it end ! 
Its way toward death is swiftly tending — 
Let it tend! 
Should earth not cease, then heav'n would not begin 
And heaven's eternal joys I ne'er should win! 

1908. 



A QUESTION 
"Pray without ceasing." 

Just a glance above 
And a half-breathed prayer, 
Yet a Father's love 
And a Father's care; — 
Then why not pray by night and day 
And have that love and care alway? 

1908 

80 



ADORATION 

"Great is our Lord, and of great power; his 
understanding is infinite.'' 

(Lord Tennyson used to pray, in the great 
crises of his life: "O Thou Infinite; Amen!") 

O Thou Infinite; Amen! — 

God of all the sons of men, 

Ever highest, and yet low. 

Thou from whom compassions flow, 

Bearer of Thy people's sin. 

Seeking weary souls to win, 

Welcomer of all who seek, 

Strengthener of all the weak, 

Comforter in sore distress, 

Ready needy lives to bless, 

Filling earth, as heaven above. 

With infinitude of love, 

Life of life and light of light. 

Full of wisdom and of might, 

Ruler o'er created things. 

Lord of lords and King of kings, 

Perfect in Thyself and ways, I 

Worthy of eternal praise. 

Loved by the redeemed host, 

Father, Son and Holy Ghost, 

We Thy triune Name confess, 

Thee we supplicate and bless; 

Worshipping, we say it then; 

O Thou Infinite — ^Amen! 

1908. 



81 



THE MINISTRY OF SUFFERING 

"These are they which have come out of great 
tribulation." 

(To a friend in the ministry, on the anniversary of 
the death of his beloved wife.) 

There are those sufE'ring v^^ithout tears, 
Whose faces w^ear the look that cheers, 
Whose voices hold in every tone 
The accent learned at heaven's throne, 
Whose hands and feet in ministry 
Show forth love's tend'rest sympathy. 
Who, without consciousness or guile. 
By thoughtful word and winsome smile, 
Bring blessing to the sons of men 
And comfort saddest hearts — e'en when 
For them there is no light or love. 
Save as these fall from heaven above. 
And who their lonely way must tread, 
While eyes see visions of the dead 
And ears hear voices silent now. 
And who beneath God's stroke must bow 
Though hearts do break and break again 
From overweight of hidden pain; 
These are the saints who meekly go 
Beside the Christ who walks below, 
And these are they who, clothed in white, 
Will walk with Him in realms of light 
Through that long painless, wondrous day 
When God has wiped all tears away! 

1908. 



82 



A PARALLEL 1 

"^She laid him in a manger." "To give light to \ 

them that sit in darkness." "Until Christ be { 

formed in you." "Christ in you, the hope of , 

glory." \ 

Within the sky a God who gave, 

Below on earth a stony cave, i 

Within the cave a mother mild. 

Beside her there a new-born Child; — | 

And lo, that cave of darkest night \ 

Illumined with a radiant Light! j 

A throne of grace in heaven above, ' 

Upon the throne a God of love, | 

Below on earth a heart of sin ^ 

And Christ, by faith, re-born within : — \ 

And lo, that heart of sinfulness ;i 

Turned into radiant holiness! i 



1908. 



A CONFESSION 



"I prayed to the Lord my God, and made 
confession." 

Did I not know there is in heaven above 
A God of wisdom and of changeless love. 
In spite of all on earth which makes life glad, 
I should be ever sad. 

Life masters me, I cannot master it. 
Before its problems I e'er helpless sit 

83 



Like witless dullard in a crowded school, 
Confessed by all a fool. 

Within my heart are longings infinite, 
And yet, like fearful child in darksome night, 
I start, I shrink, I grope but cannot find, 
A child, indeed, and blind. 

The more I seek, the more is mystery; 
The dark e'er deepens in intensity; 
I yearn for wisdom, light, for these I cry, 
They stand far off, not nigh. 

I grasp at substance, and I find it air; 
I place my foot on rock, and naught is there; 
I think high thoughts, they turn to foolishness 
And add to my distress. 

E'en love is e'er imperfect here below; 
The fondest hopes are often turned to woe; 
At heart of sweetest joy lies secret pain. 
And life is loss, not gain. 

Yea, I have seen life's ideals pass away. 
As passes into night some brightsome day. 
Till what is left is disappointment keen 
For things which might have been. 

I will not cease my quest, but this I see 
There is no solving here of mystery; 
I will pursue life's ideals, but I know 
The best is not below. 

Life, at its best, is brightness shadowed o'er; 
Life, 'spite of life, lies ever on before; 

84 



Not here, but there in heaven, may hearts abide 
Forever satisfied. 

This, then, I've surely found — with God above 
Is everlasting life, and light, and love; 
And this, in spite of all that makes life sad — 
This keeps me ever glad! 

1908. 

RESURRECTION 

'// a man die, shall he live again?" "The dead in 
Christ shall rise first." 

(After seeing a butterfly in a garden.) 



And so thou hast burst forth from place of death, i 

Enshrouded as thou vi^ast, thou beauteous thing; \ 

Wast thou made suddenly by God's sweet breath, '; 

With slender body and with radiant wing, .? 

Out of dark nothingness, \ 

This shadowy world to bless, i' 

With seven-hued colors bright, , 

Like ray of glory-light? | 

Who could have thought on yesterday, | 

When thou didst lie like sodden clay, j 

That, in thy wrapped-up, dark cocoon, '| 

There should have happened, and so soon, 

This miracle of life and light? I 

As well imagine darksome night 1 

Could suddenly be day! — :i 

What, goest thou away, \ 

And higher up, ' \ 

From buttercup, ] 

To white rose on the lifted stem? | 

Thou lookest like a flashing gem ! 

85 : 



Held fast at snow-white throat; only thy wings 

Do pulsate in the very joy of things, 

And show thou art not dead, as once before, 

E'er God had opened wide the fast-closed door 

Which held thy radiance in — thou wondrous thing, 

Thou restless insect with the quivering wing! — 

What, art thou not content 

With thine environment? 

Must leave the snow-white rose 

To be the joy of those 

Who, by their birth, 

Love lower earth? 

Dost fly to higher trees 

Where hum the busy bees. 

Seeking their honeyed dower 

From newly bloss'ming flower? 

There, weary insect, take thy rest, ' 

And dip thy dark-hued, breathing breast j 

In the bright calyx where the fruit will be ] 

When the same Hand hath wrought that fashioned .] 

thee : 

Now, thou dost glow with light; •; 

No one could think that night ] 

Once wrapped thee round \ 

As one close-bound; ] 

Thou dost with sunlight gleam \ 

As if thou wert its beam. 

Thyself the very light! — ' 

What now? Another flight, ; 

Still higher up? Wilt mount so high , 

That thou wilt touch the azure sky? ■• 

Where art thou now? — I only see '] 

A faint-winged, throbbing flash of thee, j 

As thou art merged in seven-fold ray j 

Of the fair gleaming, glittering day; — I 

Ah, thou art wholly gone; 

Thou didst to heaven belong, I 



God made thee for the skies, 
So thou didst heavenward rise: 
Good-bye, 
Bright butterfly! 
I too, a worm, shall turn to clay, 
But I shall follow thee one day. 
Thou happy thing, 
Thou radiant insect with the outspread wing! 

1908. 



HEART GIFTS 

"As he purposeth in his hearty so let him give." 

It was not given me to pluck those flowers 

Which grow within the palace-garden fair, 

Blooming beside the winding, sunlit paths 

And shedding fragrance on the balmy air; 

These were reserved for better hands than mine, 

For men, who nobler serve their Lord, the King, 

That they may come in worthier way than I 

In making Him their love's heart-offering. 

And yet the Master granted me to pluck 

Those wilder flowers, which, in the meadow wide — 

Outside the garden — grow in hidden parts. 

In verdant mead, or by the cool brook's side: 

These have I gathered for my Master-Lord, 

In willing toil, with earnest, tender hand, 

And these I bring to Him, wild as they are, and 

small. 
Mixed in with thorns, and tied with weedy strand; 
For love's sweet gifts are not for e'er to be. 
Full valued by the sense of smell and sight. 
And He who reckons love the sweetest thing. 
Will in this gift of mine take some delight; 
And so unworthy as my gift must be, 

87 



Unworthy as I am to give at all, 

I place it in the hands of Him I serve, 

As suppliant at His blessed feet I fall: — 

Then take, dear Master-Lord, this gift of mine, 

These common flowers from out Thy meadow fair; 

I give them Thee with all my heart's best love. 

To mix their hue and scent with flowers more rare ! 

1908. 

THE BIBLE 

''Every scripture . . . is God-breathed." 

The Book of books, holy, sublime, and true, 
Spirit-inspired in every thought and word. 
Revealing God, and Christ, as Savior-Lord, 

Teacher of all that men should be and do; 

A heavenly light within earth's midnight gloom, 
A quickening life amidst death's dread decay, 
A steadfast hand pointing the upward way, 

A voice of triumph o'er the grave and tomb : 

Here is a love which casts out every fear, 
Here is a peace which sets the spirit free. 
Here is a hope which gives the life good cheer, 

And here are visions of the world to be; 

Here then I rest; — and thus I ever may. 

E'en when this heaven and earth have passed away! 

1909. 



88 



"OUR FATHER" 

"After this manner . . . pray ye" 

Our Father, which art in the heaven, 

All hallowed be Thy name, 

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done 

In heaven and earth the same; 

Give us this day our daily bread. 

Forgive our debts, as thus 

We also do forgive all those 

Indebted unto us; 

Lead not into temptation's ways. 

From evil-one deliver, 

For Thine's the kingdom, glory power, 

Forever and forever: 

Amen! 
1909. 



TO-DAY 

'To-day, if ye will hear his voice." 

To-day is mine, not yesterday. 

Nor yet the day to be, 

I can not now retrace my way 

Nor can I paths foresee, 

But this one day is surely mine; — 

O God, may it be wholly Thine ! 

No gift is mine which lies behind, 
And none which lies before, 
But in this present day I find 
A full and precious store 
Of all my life and heart can need — 
With this, I am content indeed! 

89 



1 

Then give me, Lord, to live to-day j 
Forgetful of the past 
And of that unknown, future way 

Which ends in death, at last — I 

That serving in one day alone j 

I may be, day by day, Thine own! i 

"i 

1909. i 

i 

MISUNDERSTANDING ] 

"Now I know in part!' '■■ 

I said in haste. The sun shines not to-day! \ 
For I had ^^jLtd, at the great, vaulted sky 

Where God had set the lights to cheer the eye i 

And had seen naught but clouds, hence I did say \ 

The light had failed; — yet back of cloudy lining \ 

The sun, through all the day, was brightly shining! ': 

I said in haste, God loves me not to-day! i 

For I had prayed that all my life might be i 

Hedged fast about, and so from sorrow free, ; 

Hence, when dark sorrow came, I shrank away ] 

And thought God's love had ceased; — yet Love's j 

denying : 

Costs more than granting, when sad souls are cry- \ 

ing! 

1909. ■ 



90 



SACRIFICE 

'He laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay 
down our lives for the brethren" 

Summer lilies, sweet and rare, 
How they perfume all the air, 
White as pure and pure as white, 
Blooming through the day and night; 
Lo, they stand in garden bed 
Midst tall roses, crimson red. 

Tell me, lilies, are you white 
Since the roses weep at night. 
Letting fall their tears of blood 
Round your roots, a crimson flood; 
Are you sweet and are you pure 
Since their weeping doth endure? 

Weep, red roses, weep and weep. 
Through the nights your vigils keep, 
If your watching, weeping long 
Will the sweet and pure prolong; 
Red for white and white from red — ■ 
This is as the Master said. 

Roses red and lilies white. 

Through the day and through the night, 

Blooming ever side by side. 

One by other beautified; 

White from red — the red the sign 

Of the Death that was Divine ! 

1909. 



91 



SORROW 

^The Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow.' 

A blood-red lily lay upon the ground; 
On yesterday it stood erect and tall, 
Taller, by far, than all the flowers around 
Where it was blooming near the garden wall; 
It had sunk low beneath a driving rain. 
So low, it seemed 'twould never rise again. 

But on the morrow, as the sun came up 
To dry the rain-tears from the weeping sky, 
The lily lifted up its chalice-cup. 
Taller, once more, than all the flowers near by; 
Its bruised petals opened out again, 
Fairer, by far, because of driving rain. 

1909. 



HOPE 

'Our Lord Jesus Christ . . . which . . . hath 
given us good hope through grace." 

Dark are the passing days, 
Long are the narrowing ways, 

And life is sad'ning; 
But in the midst of all. 
Whatever ills befall, 

There is a glad'ning. 

Again, and yet again 
Hearts break because of pain. 
Deep is life's sorrow; 

92 



I909. 



And yet the pain departs 
From sad and suffering hearts 
On some to-morrow. 

Weakness increases here, 
Death hovers ever near, 

Life has its ending; 
Yet, 'spite of dimming eyes. 
Faith sees the bright'ning skies, 

God's love befriending. 

Though darkness be as night 
In darkness there is light, 

Even in dying; 
There is no place for fear, 
God gives the heart good-cheer, 

On Christ relying. 

Then soul of mine be brave, 
Christ will uphold and save, 

His power sustaineth; 
Whatever loss betide 
Hope may fore'er abide 

Since God remaineth. 



93 



TRANSFORMED 

'He saith unto them, Follow me; . . . and they 
straightway left their nets and followed him" 



(After seeing Zimmermann's picture, "Christ and 
the Fishermen.") 



A single touch of a gentle hand, 
A single word of a winsome voice, 

And fishermen turned from sea to land 
To follow a Stranger, by willing choice; 

They left their nets by the sunlit sea 

To walk in the deserts of Galilee. 



The Master led them by dusty ways 

And over the lonely mountain heights; 
The sun beat hot through the lifeless days 

And crowds pressed close through the long-drawn 
nights; 
They were bond-slaves now, where once they were 

free, 
But they ne'er turned back to their nets by the 
sea. 



They followed on to the city fair. 

On Judah's heights with its walls and towers. 
With its glittering temple in whitened square 

Where priests said prayers through the countless 
hours ; 
They went with their Master to Calvary, 
And they clave to Him there in His agony. 

94 



They were left alone; but they still pressed on — 
E'en as He' had said — to the distant lands, 

Yea, on and on, till their strength was gone 
And they sank to die on the desert sands; — 

Ah, they never forgot blest Galilee 

And the Voice and the Hand by the sunlit sea! 

1909. 



OLD AGE 

"The path of the just . . . shineth more and more 
unto the perfect day" 

I saw an old man pass our opened door, 
His hair and beard were white as winter snow. 
His halting feet moved painfully and slow, 
He leaned his weight upon the cane he bore; 
Old age its certain signs had o'er him cast. 
The years had gone and life was almost past. 

I pitied the old man, as thus I saw 

His form go shambling by, with wearied tread — 

Until I noticed that his whitened head 

Was lifted up and that his gaze foresaw 

A heavenly light, as, often, dying eyes 

Are given to see beyond the cloud-veiled skies. 

And then my pity turned from him to me, 
The younger man who walks with firmer tread, 
Who hurries on through life with bowed head. 
Intent on what this earth gives one to see. 
For blest is he, whatever age has come. 
Who sees beyond the setting of life's sun. 

95 



So then I thank thee, aged friend of mine, 

That thou didst pass our door, that summer day, 

Reminding me that life's declining way 

Leads, 'spite of failing strength, to life divine; 

Yea, may I follow thee, and, more and more. 

Walk e'en as thou — with gaze fixed on before! 

1909. 

GOOD MORNING 

"As thy days, so shall thy strength be." 

Good morrow. Friend; God give thee cheer to-day; 
Christ is thy Sun, and His light ne'er grows dim; 
Put anxious thought and brooding care away 
And greet each task with face upturned to Him; 
So shalt thou find, whatever may betide, 
Strength for each hour, and joy at eventide! 

1910. 

GOOD NIGHT 
"The darkness hideth not from thee." 

Good-night, dear Friend, and may thy sleep be 

sweet, 
God guardeth thee, so let all cares be gone, 
Take thou thy peaceful rest, deep and complete, 
Through all the darkened hours, till morning's 

dawn ; 
Then may'st thou rise, in light of a new day, 
To walk with Christ, thy life and strength and 

stay! 

1910. 

96 



LIFE 

"He must increase, hut I decrease/^ 

Burn, thou candle, sure and slow, 
Burn on downward, even so. 
Shining, and fore'er consumed. 
Wasting, and forever doomed, 
Lasting through thy little night, 
Going out at morning's light, 
Having place, then put away, 
Soon forgot in light of day; 
Lower, lower, and now done; — 
Shine thou, greater, brighter Sun! 

1910. 

REVELATION 

"The entrance of thy words givetk light." 

Blest Revelation, how thou dost set free 

The mind from soul-destroying fearfulness, 

Op'ning the eyes and giving them to see 

The all-wise God, who doth with wisdom bless 

The darkened heart, whate'er that darkness is. 

Illumining the gloom with radiant light. 

Which shines from out the other world to this 

Until life's shadows take eternal flight; 

Thou art the message of eternity, 

Which art the words of the Eternal Word, 

For thou alone dost speak in verity 

And thou alone dost certainty afford; 

97 



Thou art the test of truth, wherever found, 

In works of God, of man, in nature, art. 

From thought's beginning to its utmost bound, 

From throne of God to neediest human heart; 

Thou speakest once, and from that moment's time 

There is no need that man should speak again; 

Thou speakest yet again, and words sublime 

Have made deep mysteries forever plain; 

And so in thee the soul in sinful breast 

May find the words which will forever save. 

And so on thee the weary heart may rest. 

Whether it be the heart of king or slave; 

Here, only here, is life's philosophy. 

For here there speaks a voice which is divine, 

And only here, is highest prophecy. 

Since here is God, in every word and line: — 

Here then, I stand, let others take their way, 

As seemeth to them good, in search of truth, 

Blest Revelation turns my night to day 

And gives my dying soul eternal youth ; 

And what it does not give, at present, here 

I do not need, at present, here to know 

For what has not been said, I could not bear, 

And God, in other world, will yet bestow; 

So then, be this my choice, for all the days, 

To humbly search this Truth, with 'tense delight, 

Acknowledging to man, by words and ways. 

That entrance of this Wisdom giveth light! 

1910. 



98 



SELF-LOVE 

"He that loveth not his brother abideth in death." 

Narcissus — so the ancient fable runs — 
Was, 'mongst the heavenly ones, the fairest god, 
With face as full of light as seven suns, 
With foot as fleet as e'er touched grassy sod; 
His home was in the skies where gods do dwell, 
And yet to visit earth pleased him full well. 

The goddesses within the upper sphere 

Wooed this fair god through many a golden day; 

But to all these he gave a heedless ear, 

And from their tender pleadings turned away; 

They yearned to make him theirs, in sweetest 
grace ; — 

His only answer was a scornful face. 

And when he came to earth, some nymph or faun 
Would follow him in wood or through the field; 
But he would flee till suitor would be gone. 
Nor would he e'er to love's entreaties yield; 
They sought to win him; — he was well content 
To live apart, on his own pleasures bent. 

And thus Narcissus, loved but loving not. 
Wandered alone, his heart estranged from all; 
Until at last, by one and all forgot. 
He 'gan to think what heart he might enthrall; 
When suddenly, he found that none did care 
To hear his tale, or his late love to share. 

At this, disconsolate, he turned aside — 
Ashamed to seek the gods who dwell above — 
To forest deep and lone, to there abide 
And there to search for beauty and for love; 

99 



And so It was, in lonely wandering, 

He came across a flowing, sparkling spring. 

Here, sad and weary, seeking needed rest, 
He stretched himself upon the verdant grass. 
When, drinking from the spring — his face close 

prest — 
He saw himself as in a burnished glass; 
Such winsome beauty his transfixed eyes 
Had never seen before, in earth or skies. 

He had but loved himself; — now he began 
To love himself as not in all the past; 
Toward that fair image all his soul outran 
Until its wondrous beauty held him fast; 
And there he gazed upon it, day by day. 
Fearing to rise lest it should pass away. 

Days come and go; nights pass as do the days; 
Years run their course; and yet, in spite of fears, 
Narcissus lingers on, and often prays 
That he may linger still through other years; 
And, blinded by his love, he ne'er espies 
How light is fading from his face and eyes. 

Thus came the day when wasted strength did fail, 
When the fair head sank lower, lower down, 
When love of self no longer could avail, 
Yea, when self-love did god-like beauty drown; 
For there, at last. Narcissus lay quite dead, 
His love departed and his beauty fled. 

No gods came down to bear his soul away; 
No nymphs drew near to raise up mound or bier; 
Unloving all, unloved by all, he lay 
A fallen god, doomed thus to disappear; — 
lOO 



From out his dust a death-like flower upcame 
To witness to his folly and his shame. 

I called the story fable; — nay, 'tis true; 
True of all souls who turn away from those 
Who fain would love them, and who them pursue 
With tokens of sweet love at heart's dispose; 
For loving self so well, to latest breath, 
They love themselves, at last, to loveless death! 

1910, 



DISCONTENT 

'For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the 
inheritance which the Lord God ffiveth you." 

My heart is full of discontent 
Because of earth's environment; 
I seek for good of perfect kind 
But perfect good I cannot find; 
Sweet is this; life, and large its worth, 
But hearts are never satisfied on earth. 

I've tested all things 'neath the sky 
Which searching mind and heart may try; 
This is the sum, that searchings mean 
Failure and disappointment keen; 
Nowhere on earth may soul find rest 
Since all on earth is less than best. 



And hence I turn from all below 
To what the Lord will soon bestow, 
In other world, past shining star. 
Where He, and saints, and angels are; 

IQJ 



Ay, there, in heaven's environment, 
I'll find God's best, and be content! 

1910. 

A CRY 

"The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth." 

Some say 'tis certain truth that the first cry, 
As every following cry, of new-born babe, 
Is sweetest music to the ears of her 
Who hath the travail borne in mother love; 
For these assure us that the ears of such 
Do hear, beyond the sharpness of the cry, 
The tones of a glad, loving, trustful song 
Which childhood voices for the help of one 
Who counts it joy to hearken and to give. 
I dare not say whether this word be true, 
But this I know and gratefully affirm 
That as my cry has risen up to God 
It has awakened such harmonious strains 
Of answering love-songs o'er His needy one 
As makes me sure beyond a passing doubt 
That e'en my sharpest cry was to that heart 
Itself a love-song, set to music sweet. 
Then, Lord, as I have need, I can but cry 
E'en though petition be a bitter plaint; 
For what can childhood do, when need has 

come. 
But turn, with cry, to Thee, the Father- 
God? 
And so, my Lord, this I would ask of Thee 
That Thou wilt ever hear within my voice, 
As often as I come and as I cry, 
The song of its adoring, tender love, 
103 



For did I love Thee not, I ne'er should 

come, 
And, coming not, I ne'er should cry at all ! 



1910. 



SURPRISE 



'When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it 
in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new 
tombj which he had hewn out in the rock." 



Joseph wrought upon his tomb, | 

Thinking of the hour when he, ] 

Passing through death's agony, \ 

Would, at last, meet life's dread doom; j 

Stroke on stroke his mallet fell — ), 

Breaking his sad heart as well. ;; 



Now the tomb is finished quite 
With the chisel marks in view; 
Ne'er again can life be new, 
Day is passing into night, 
Naught before but fleeting breath 
And the lying still in death. 



See the crowds around the cross, j 

Lo, the flash of piercing spear. 

Bowed the head of Victim dear ] 

Who endured the pain and loss; { 

Oh, the blood which hath been shed; — ! 

Who will bury this God's Dead? 
103 



Near at hand a rock-hewn tomb, 

'Neath the shelter of the hill, 

Waiting empty there, until 

Hands shall bear Him through the gloom, 

Bear Him gently to the grave 

Who hath given His life to save. 

Now, He lies all wrapped in white. 
With the chisel marks around; 
Where can such a tomb be found. 
All aglow with heavenly light? 
Dead — yet Lord of life is He, 
This the God of victory. 



Joseph, Joseph, sad of heart, j 

Thou who wrought in pain and fear, 1 

Shedding many a blinding tear, i 

Honored above men thou art; — \ 

Seeing naught but rock-hewn dome, | 

Thou hast made thy God a Home! j 

1910. ' 

\ 

LOVE \ 

"Keep yourselves in the love of God." \ 



As little children on a springtime day, \ 

When the fair sun is promising that soon I 

The winter's night will turn to summer's noon | 

Bask in the light and seek to catch each ray, j 
So would I keep myself in that sweet love 

Which falls from heaven above. \ 

104 



And too, as children follow the bright light 
From house to street, from street to country lane, 
Seeking its warmth, again and yet again. 
Through the long day, till day has ta'en its flight. 
So would I seek the sunshine of God's love 
Wherever it may move. 

Ay, and as children cry aloud in pain 

When 'cross the sun there passes dark'ning cloud, 

Shrinking aback as from a dead man's shroud 

And crying more if darksome cloud remain. 

So may that sin to me most grievous prove 

Which overshadows love. 

Lord, grant me love; for this I pray and long, 

Warm, glowing love from Thine out-shining heart; 

With it I live; I die if it depart; 

With it I live to follow and be strong; — 

And oh, may I, as angels are above 

Be loved that I may love! 

1910. 



EASTER DAY 

'That I may know . . . the power of his resur- 
rection." 

The Lord is risen; — 
I must arise 
And seek His face 
In upper skies; 
I will not turn 
To cross or grave, 
He lives above 
Who d'itd to save. 

105 



I9I0. 



The crocus flower 
In garden bed 
Has lifted up 
Its spotless head. 
It raised its face 
Toward gleaming sun 
Before the day 
Had well begun. 

The song-birds flit 
From hedge to trees 
To fill with song 
The morning's breeze; 
Hark, to the burst 
Of sweet accord 
As they unite 
To praise earth's Lord: 

And borne on air, 
In rhythmic time, 
There sounds the beat 
Of tuneful chime. 
As pealing bells 
In steeple high 
Ring, "Christ is risen," 
To earth and sky. 

Then, rise, my soul. 
Seek Christ above, 
The Lord of light 
And life and love; 
The cross is past. 
No more death's pain, 
Christ lives fore'er, 
Fore'er to reign! 



1 06 



BOND SERVICE 
"A bond-slave of Jesus Christ." 

Thou art my King, O Christ; I am Thy slave; 

Since Thou hast bought me, I am all Thine own; 

It is for Thee to reign, I would not crave 

A single right before Thy royal throne; 

If thus I be from every gift debarred 

Let me not slack, nor in my service faint; 

If Thou shalt smile, be this my great reward; 

If Thou should'st chide, I would not make com- 
plaint ; 

Nor would I seek to know the why or how, 

Since 'tis for Thee to ask whate'er Thou wilt; 

This I would choose, to listen and to bow 

And then to do, till task be all fulfilt: 

One only thing I beg, by Thy great grace, 
E'en as I serve — to look upon Thy face! 

1 910. 



A DREAMER 

"Your young men shall see visions, and your old 
men shall dream dreams." 

(It used to be said of the Reverend J. Hudson 
Taylor that he was a mystic, a visionary, a 
dreamer.) 

An unknown dreamer dreamed concerning men, 
And what he saw in vision came to pass, 
For he, by faith, had stood on sea of glass 

And heard the Voice, and then had said. Amen! 
107 



Thereat, he quickly turned from heaven to earth, 
The light of glory burning in his eyes, 
To speak what he had heard within the skies, 

To preach redemption through the heavenly birth: 

And so he saw what God saw from His throne, 
And thus he wrought according to God's plan. 

And thence through years, though oft rejected, lone, 
He voiced God's message to his fellow man: 

The dreamer died; they laid him 'neath the sod; — 

But now a countless host adores his God! 

1910. 

PARTED 

"Until — the shadows flee away!" 

(Sent to one who had recently lost his beloved 
wife.) 

The Master led us by the meadow path. 

Through the sweet smelling green of springing 
grass. 

Beside a stream whose waters shone like glass, 
'Midst fragrant flowers — the meadow's aftermath; 
There my dear love oft plucked the daisies gay. 

Of which I made bright garlands for her hair; 

Each hour she looked a new-decked bride, so fair 
That, yearningly, I followed day by day: 

And so the Master led us through the field 
Toward His fair palace gleaming on the hill. 

And so glad pleasures each new day did yield 
As we sang love-songs, till our song was still ; 

Then came a sharp, hard road, and then the gate; 

The Master took her in; — He bade me wait! 

1910. 

108 



FAREWELL 



"I shall go to him but he shall not return to me." 

(In memory of a Japanese friend who was greatly 
beloved.) 

Out of the woods comes a cry of pain, 

It rises and falls in a sad refrain, 

And out of the shadow of fir and pine 

Come mourners who walk in a long, slow line; 

And they bear the body of one I knew, 

Of one I have loved as I've loved but few. 



They carry him down to the river side, 

To a boat afloat on the ebbing tide, 

They lay him down in the lifted bow. 

With his face upturned to the arching prow; — 

Ah, his face looks pained in the evening light 

For it bears the marks of a hard-fought fight. 



Outward and outward the river flows 
And outward and outward the long-boat goes, 
Toward the trackless deep and the setting sun, 
Far into the west where the night's begun. 
And, watching, I stand on the lonely shore 
Till the outspread sails can be seen no more. 

I bow my head, and I weep and weep 
For my heart is out on the shrouded deep, 
Where the boat is afloat and his body lies 
With its white, scarred face and its fast-closed eyes; 
And I wonder if yonder, beyond the night. 
He has found a port in the land of light. 
109 



"Farewell, dear comrade!" 'twas thus I had cried 
As the boat had sailed on the flowing tide; — 
But never a word had my comrade said 
As he lay all quiet with pillowed head; 
And all I had heard, midst the mourner's cry, 
Was the beat of my heart, and the night wind's 
sigh. 

So here I now stand with my eyes intent 

On the night and the dark where his loved form 

went ; 
And here I will wait till they come for me 
To carry my body across the sea; — 
And this is my hope, for his soul and mine, 
That the hand on the helm is the Hand Divine! 

1910. 



HOME BOUND 

'Absent from the body, at home with the Lord" 

'Tis a long, long way to my waiting home, 
And the roadway is rough and steep. 
And few are the smiles in the weary miles 
While there's many a chance to weep; 
But on at the end of the long, rough way 
There's a door which is opened wide. 
And the day will come, at some set of sun, 
When I'll enter to there abide. 

'Tis a desolate road I am travelling on 
For the crowd does not pass this way, 
And the heart oft longs for the heartening songs 
Of those who make holiday; 
no 



But, on beyond, in the home on the hill, 
There are faces I love more dear, 
So I take my way, through the long-drawn day, 
To its welcome and holier cheer. 



The daylight fades as I journey along 

And shadows are deepening around, 

And I sometimes fear as the night draws near 

For pitfalls and dangers abound; 

But this is my joy along the hard way, 

Whatever the shadows portend — 

The darker the night, the brighter the light 

In my home at my journey's end. 

So then I'll go on with never a pause, 

Whatever my sorrows may be. 

Yea, nothing shall stay my journeying way 

Till the distant portal I see; 

And when I shall stand 'neath its shelter, at last, 

At rest in my blessed abode, 

I'll praise, without end, my heavenly Friend 

For the home at the end of the road! 

1910. 



DEATH 

"To depart and be with Christ j for it is very far 
better." 

The fingers of the Lord were downward laid, 
Gently, but firmly, on the upturned eyes; 
The soul shrank back, bewildered and afraid. 
And cried for life, o'erwhelmed by death's sur- 
prise ; — 

III 



Just then, bright visions burst upon the sight 
And that sad soul was 'raptured with delight. 

Those sore bereft drew near the flower-decked bier, 
And, weeping, laid the body 'neath the sod; 
They spoke, and wished their loved one back, and 

near, 
And mourned to have to bow 'neath stroke of 

God ; — 
Their loved one mourned no more, for, far above, 
He walked with Christ, in ecstasy of love! 

1910. 

CHAOS 

"The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in 
pain." 

A great and loving God on heaven's throne, 
A Savior-Christ expectant at His side. 
The Holy Spirit seeking for His own 
And pointing upward to the crucified; 
Yet Satan ruling souls without restraint, 
Seeking the whole, wide world of men to win; 
A few believers, struggling on, and faint. 
And multitudes far-wand'ring in their sin; 
Sickness, decay and death in every place, 
Sorrow and anguish, with sad moaning, tears ; — 
In heaven, a plenitude of love and grace. 
But judgment near, and hearts o'erwhelmed with 
fears ! 

1911. 



112 



COSMOS 

"He hath made everything beautiful in his time" 

A tiny insect nestling near the ground, 
The waving grass above, all fresh and green 
Midst grass, a cattle-herd, with sheep around, 
And trees and flowers nearby to deck the scene; 
About, green hills, down which bright streamlets 

flow. 
And snow-capped mountains, reaching to the sky; 
O'erhead, great birds a-winging to and fro. 
And in heaven's blue, the white clouds sailing by; 
In distant space, bright worlds on flaming wing, 
Which pass where angel-feet alone have trod; 
On earth, meek men, redeemed and worshipping; 
And over all, the blest Creator-God! 

1911. 

A COMPARISON 

"Comparing spiritual things tinth spiritual." 

I walked one spring-time morn through meadow 

path. 
My head thrown back, my step alert and true; 
Sweet flowers bedecked the meadow's aftermath, 
The song-birds sang their matins midst the dew; 
And, as I reached the highway hard and firm, 
Dismounting from the stile, with whistled tune, 
I placed my heedless foot upon a worm 
And crushed its life out — that bright morn in June; 
But what cared I? All life was glad and gay; 
And so I whistled still, and went my way. 

113 



I crossed the stile into the field one night, 
When all the world was still, anear, afar; 
Above me was the vasty, heavenly height, 
And all was dark, save for a flickering star; 
How infinite was space; how small was I; 
How awful was the silence, far and near; 
I seemed no man beneath that vaulted sky; 
I stood transfixed, my heart o'erwhelmed with fear; 
And then I cried: — "I've sinned for I've forgot; 
Great God, I'm but a worm; oh, crush me not!" 

1911. 



COMMISSIONED 

'As the Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 

Out from the realm of the glory-light 
Into the far-away land of night, 
Out from the bliss of worshipful song 
Into the pain of hatred and wrong, 
Out from the holy rapture above 
Into the grief of rejected love. 
Out from the life at the Father's side 
Into the death of the crucified. 
Out of high honor and into shame 
The Master, willingly, gladly came: — 
And now, since He may not suffer anew, 
As the Father sent Him so sendeth He you ! 

1911. , 



114 



DISCIPLESHIP 



"These are they which follow the Lamb whitherso- 
ever he goeth" 

I thought ft hard that Christ should ask of me 
To walk through life along a blood-marked way, 
And thus it was, I shrank back, tremblingly. 
Then paused, and bowed my head, and said Him, 

Nay! 
But looking down I saw, with tear-dimmed eyes. 
That all the blood-marks came from pierced feet. 
At which I learned, with sad yet glad surprise. 
That they were proofs of love, enduring, sweet; 
'Twas thus again I looked on Christ's dear face, 
And once again began to follow on ; — 
Since then I've only thought of His great grace. 
And fear of blood-marked ways is wholly gone. 

1911. 



A PURITAN 

"There was a man sent from God!' 

He did not live in times long since gone by, 
When men, for sake of truth, left home and lands 
And builded other homes, 'neath foreign sky. 
While some stood guard against wild, hostile bands ; 
He lived — not mindless of that hardy past — 
In these more easy, lifeless days of ours. 
When gone are rugged sacrifice and fast 
And wealth leads men to live with aimless hours; 

115 



When learning speaks of sacred things with sneers, 
When science holds religion commonplace, 
When new-born faiths dispell the old-time fears 
And culture takes the place of heavenly grace; 
When sacred doctrines hid within the Word, 
Loved by the fathers dearer far than life, 
Are lightly held, are seldom taught or heard 
And then are yielded up — lest there be strife; 
Yea, in these days he lived, one 'mongst the few, 
Revering Holy Word, as he was taught. 
Believing it God-breathed, divinely true, 
Holding its wisdom 'fore all human thought; 
Seeing therein the Christ, as Man and God, 
Trusting His power to save and keep from sin, 
Walking the blood-marked way which saints have 

trod, 
Keeping the Spirit's flame all bright within; 
Dwelling in midst of worldlings, but apart, 
Pure and high-minded, seeking joys above. 
Serving mankind with willing hand and heart 
And giving those most needy, most of love; 
And yet, through all, as touching compromise, 
A Puritan, though scoffed at o'er and o'er; 
Yielding respecting self — but, otherwise. 
As firm as granite rock on wave-beat shore! 

1911. 



CONFIDENCE 
"I . . . am persuaded that he is able to keep." 

Suppose 5^ou knew this day would be the last 
That you would spend upon this old-time earth; 
What would you do — cry out, and pray, and fast. 
Put work aside, and every thought of mirth, 
116 



And then give up your soul to dread and fear, 
And so meet Death with bitter moan and tear? 



Or, would you nerve your heart to meet that hour 
As stoics did, in days before Christ came, 
And so forget that sin has endless power 
To bring the sinful life to endless shame; 
And then would you, your heart-fears to defy, 
Laugh in mad mirth — until grim Death stood by? 



As God would give me grace, I should not choose 
To meet my last day thus, but otherwise; 
Mindful of sin, I yet should hope to lose 
All thought of sin, through Christ's great sacri- 
fice ; — 
Then, I should seek to turn to work or play 
Just as I might on any other day! 

1911. 



WORDS 



'Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and 
cursinff; . . . these things ought not so to he'' 



I spoke a cruel word 

To one who heard; 

Within that heart 
It lodged like poisoned dart 
And that one mourned the morn 

When I was born. 
117 



I spoke a word of love, 

From God above, 

To one sore tried. 
And, though that one still cried, 
He blessed the happy day 

I passed that way. 



1912. 



AMBITION 

' fVe make it our ambition that . . . we m.ay be ac- 
cepted of him/^ 

To please the Lord, from day to day, 
In all I am and do and say; 
To keep His image 'fore my eyes 
And wear its form without disguise; 
To walk in gladness, yet in fear, 
With heart firm fixed, with vision clear; 
To face temptations and to stand, 
To do the duty next at hand; 
To be man's slave in word and deed 
And serve him most who most has need; 
To live, to die — the vict'ry won — 
And hear the Master say, "Well done!" 
This be my choice, through all my days, 
Till strife be turned to heaven and praise! 



118 



ENCOURAGEMENT 



'His heart was encouraged in the ways of the 
Lord." 



My Soul, there is a country 
To which thou'rt going fast, 
A sweet and blessed country 
Where sweet and blessing last; 
Then cheer thee. Soul, take courage, 
The way is not for long, 
A little, and the sighing 
Will change to joy and song! 

1912. 



ENTHRONED 

"He is the Lord of lords and King of kings." 

(After hearing an address to Christians in which 
they were urged to make Christ King and in 
which the speaker closed by saying: "Which shall 
it be for Him; a cross or a throne?") 

They followed Him close, the rabble crowd. 
And they pressed upon Him with shoutings loud. 
As He walked in their midst, His meek head 
bowed — 

The Master of Galilee; 
And few were the friends that He had that day 
As He traversed the hard and tortuous way 
Through frowning gate to the hill-top gray, 

To die on the cruel tree, 

119 



They nailed Him there and they raised Him high, 
They put Him to shame 'tween the earth and sky, 
He asked for no mercy by word or cry — 

He was dying for you and me; 
And they stood and mocked Him, the rabble throng, 
With jeering and hissing and ribald song, 
Yea, they taunted Him sore, who had done no 
wrong. 

As He suffered on Calvary. 

They eagerly watched Him till day was past, 
Till the sky with darkness was overcast, 
Till his head hung low on His breast, at last, 

Who was dying to set men free; 
Ah, He could not deliver Himself, they said, 
Because He endured and willingly bled; 
And so they reviled Him, and left Him dead — 

A King in His majesty! 

Oh, would I had been in the crowd that day 

To follow Him on to the hill-top gray 

And to take His part, whate'er they might say, 

Who gave up His life for me; 
For I would have hailed Him a King e'en then — 
The thorn-crowned Savior of sinful men — 
And have bowed the knee, again and again. 

As He died in His agony! 

But the day is past and the crowd has gone 

And silent the jeer and the ribald song 

And a crown and a throne to the King belong. 

Who suffered so willingly; 
Yet I do what I can in a hostile land 
For here in the midst of the throng I stand 
And I raise my voice and I lift my hand 

In pledge of my loyalty; 
I20 



And I vow in the light of yon bright sun 
I will seek to undo the wrong that was done 
When they put Him to shame, God's holy Son, 

On Calvary's cursed tree; 
Yea, as long as I live my praise I'll sing 
And as long as I live my gifts I'll bring, 
To Him whom I've throned in my heart as King — 

The Christ of all victory! 

1914. 



CHOSEN 

"For the Master s use" 

(To a father and mother who had lost a beloved 
child.) 

The gardener tended his garden fair 

With patient toil and with brooding love. 

In the glowing sun and the balmy air 

And the showers which fell from the heaven above; 

And the flowers upsprang 'neath his skilful hand, 

The fairest and sweetest in all the land. 

The jasmine bloomed by the flowing spring 
And the sweet-brier flowered on the old stone wall 
And beside the mill — with its broken wing — 
The sun-flowers glowed, erect and tall. 
While near the path where the lilacs grew 
Were bright-eyed pansies of many a hue. 

And fairer yet, in the garden bed. 
Were lilies white, and radiant phlox. 
And fairest of all, there were roses red 
In an emerald ring of stately box — 
121 



And there on the rose-tree, in leafy green, 
Was the reddest rose that was ever seen. 



The lord of the garden passed that way 
And greeted the gardener with kindly smile. 
And he paused to look at the rich display, 
While he stood and leaned 'gainst the garden stile, 
And he wondered that hand could bedeck the 

ground 
With so fair a sight as he saw around. 

And then he looked at the garden bed. 
At the lilies white and the radiant phlox, 
At the rose-tree green with its roses red 
A-bloom in its ring of emerald box. 
And then at the red-rose, wondrous fair. 
Which swung on its stem in the stirring air. 

And the lord of the garden gladly smiled, 
And he called to the gardener to bend his knee 
And to cut the rose his hand had beguiled — 
The bright-red rose on the red-rose tree — 
For the garden was his and all that was there, 
And its fairest flower was his right to wear. 



The gardener bowed his old gray head 
And he slowly and painfully bent his knee 
And he cut from its stem the rose bright-red. 
With never a pause, at his lord's decree. 
And then he arose from the garden-sand 
And he laid the flower in his master's hand. 
122 



But he trembled sore and his eyes were dim 
And his heart beat fast, and he spoke no word 
And he turned to his work with his visage grim 
And the songs of the birds he no longer heard ;- 
For of all the flowers in the garden fair 
That flower had had his tenderest care. 
But the lord of the garden wore that night 
The rose on his heart in his castle-hall 
And the lords and ladies, with flowers bedight, 
Said the bright-red rose was the fairest of all; — 
And the lord of the castle never forgot 
How his old gray gardener had faltered not ! 

1914 



SONGS 

"Singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." 

The king's decree had gone forth through the land, 

Calling the master-singers to the court, 

To there display their noble art of song 

And thus compete for prize of golden crown: 

And so the call had reached to even me, 

Poor as I was, and biding in my hut 

Deep in the wood-land, far from haunts of men; 

For my beloved brother, man-at-arms, 

In brother love and pride, had told his squire 

That I could sing like lark at early morn, 

And the kind squire had written down my name 

Upon the list; and so the call had come. 



On certain day, therefore, I set my feet 
Along the wood-land road, toward castle-court, 
Care-free, and vying with the feathered tribe 
Which sang from tree and hedge-row as I passed; 
123 



And thus I traversed on, out from the wood, 
And came to village lanes, and then to streets 
Of a great city, filled M^ith jostling crowds, 
All pressing toward the hill and castle-gate; 
But there my song died all away, and I 
Should soon have turned about and sought my home 
Had not my brother met me, forcing me 
To follow him, e'en to the castle hall. 
Wherein I stood, trembling and sore abashed. 
My homespun like to rags in such array 
Of silk and satin gowns, of doublet, hose. 
Of tapestry, of carpet, and of throne. 



But soon the songs began ; and then I lost 

All sense of fear, and stood transfixed. 

Listening to voice on voice, each better than 

The voice which only now had caught the ear 

And ravished heart and soul. And on they sang, 

Men, women, full a score, all richly dressed 

And masters of themselves though there in court, 

Fearing no face, not e'en the face of king: 

And as they sang, they spoke of tilt and lance, 

Of brave crusades, of great and bloody wars, 

Of lords and ladies fair, of lovers true. 

And too, most often, of their lord, the king. 

Praising his person and his gracious ways: 

And then there came a pause; — when, all at once, 

I heard the herald cry, voicing my name, 

In accents which, at first, seemed far away 

And then like drum-beats on my startled ears; 

At which the throng looked round, both here and 

there. 
For other lord or lady — till the squire 
Took hold upon my hand and led me forth. 
Up to the throne, and left me 'fore the king. 
124 



I heard them laugh — the crowd which stood be- 
hind — 
Laugh at my homespun dress, my braided hair, 
My sun-tanned face and hands, my dusty feet, 
Till heart beat fast, till blood suffused my cheek, 
Till tears o'erran my eyes, till, trembling sore, 
I should have fallen in unconscious faint 
Had I not looked into the face of him 
Who sat upon the throne and kindly smiled; 
At this I thought of God and His dear Christ, 
And then I folded hands across my breast 
And bowed my head and prayed, when suddenly 
A great, sweet peace took hold upon my heart; — 
I seemed in wood-land midst the singing birds, 
I heard the murmuring brook, I felt the breath 
Of perfumed zephyr blowing on my cheek. 
And God was very near, as was His wont 
Whene'er I walked with Him in wood-land glens; 
And then I sang, free, unrestrained, to Him 
Who only is the Lord, the King of kings: 



High are the castle walls. 
High are its vaulted halls. 

But heaven is higher; 
Nigh are its knights who dare, 
Nigh are its ladies fair, 

But God is nigher: 



Rare are its glittering gems, 
Rare are its diadems, 

But heaven is rarer ; 
Fair are its choirs that sing. 
Fair is its gracious king. 

But Christ is fairer: 

125 



Christ is the ever high, 
Christ is for ever nigh, 

Nearer and nearer; 
Christ is supremely rare, 
Christ is the only fair, 

Dearer and dearer! 

At which my singing ceased, and I shrank back 
To shadowed corner, hiding in the crowd. 



A silence fell upon the gathered throng 
And every eye was fixed upon the king. 
Who sat with head bowed down and knitted brow, 
Bethinking who deserved the golden crown: 
At last he spoke — the singers drawing near 
But I the farther shrinking out of sight — 
His vibrant voice a-trembling through the hall 
And each word coming forth in measured tone: 
"My lords and ladies, you will 'gree with me 
It is no easy task to full decide 
Which voice has best expressed sweet melody 
Where all have sung with perfect tune and art; 
Indeed, sweet singers, I must thank you all 
And praise without restraint each well-trained voice : 
And yet, methink, where song is at its best 
There must be other test than that of art; 
That eye and look, that attitude and grace. 
And, most of all, that choice of thought and word 
Must be the final proof; — and so I give 
This crown of purest gold to none of these 
Who sang of lordly men, who sang of me. 
But to the lowly maid, who, in our midst. 
Did bow the head in prayer, and then, who sang 
In praise of Christ — who only is the King!" 
At that he called me forth, and, from the throne, 
He put the circled gold upon my brow. 
126 



Full fast I took my way to the great church 
Which stands beside the castle on the hill, 
And, never pausing in its stately nave, 
I passed by choir and throne to the high steps 
And 'fore the brazen cross laid down the crown; 
And then I turned my face toward distant home, 
Through streets to lanes, through lanes to wooded 

glens, 
The songs a-coming back the farther on 
I walked in deeps of woods, beside the streams, 
Till heart was free once more, till I forgot 
All at the distant court, except its king. 
And thought of naught beside — to God be praise ! — 
But of the heavenly court and Christ its Lord: 



And then again I dwelt in shady glens 

And sang my songs of praise with singing birds! 

1914. 



KING DAVID 

'The swallow (hath found) a nest for herself, 
where she may lay her young, even thine altars, 
O Lord of hosts." 

The great king David sat upon his throne, 
Within his palace, at Jerusalem; 
Around him stood his servants, all intent, 
And courtiers too, awaiting his command, 
While all about him was magnificence. 
The sign of kingly state and royal wealth 
For 'mong the nations, there was none so great 
As this, who once was but a shepherd-boy. 
Whom God had lifted from his lowly place 
To make him, in his time, earth's king of kings. 
127 



And yet, this day, king David's heart was sad 
For, 'spite of all his royal state and power, 
There was within his spirit that unrest — . 
To which magnificence can bring no peace — 
Which comes from loss of fellowship with God. 
'Twas thus that David called for his loved harp, 
The one which, long ago, on Bethlehem's plains, 
While watching, faithful, o'er his father's sheep, 
!He oft had played to soothe away his fears; • 
And thus it was he deftly touched its strings, 
Till trembling music woke the echoes round, 
'Neath arched doors and through long corridors, 
Filling the palace with its vibrant strains, 
Which, shortly after, his sonorous voice 
Made even more melodious with its song. 



But, somehow, on this day, sweet melody 
Failed to bring calm as in the days of yore; 
So, sighing deeply, David ceased to sing. 
And, presently, ceased also his deft play; 
When, calling all to leave him quite alone, 
He flung himself upon his damasked couch 
And bowed his head upon his outstretched arms, 
Weary and sad, his longings unfulfilled. 



While thus the great king lay, disconsolate. 
He heard upon the pavement in the street 
The sound of pilgrim feet. Then he recalled 
That this was one of Israel's holy days, 
When worshippers went up to temple courts 
To there perform their vows before the Lord; 
At this, the king arose, and, presently, 
Most humbly clad, and all unlike a king. 
He joined the pilgrims, walking on with them, 
To seek for peace and heart-rest with his God. 
128 



Thus, in a little, having passed the vale 
And reached the temple courts upon the hill, 
He stood, with all the people, worshipping, 
Joining the choral chant led by the priests 
And answ'ring all the prayers with loud, Amen ! — 
And there he stood, till all the people passed 
And chant and prayer were still, the worship 

o'er — 
A sorrowing man, for e'en in temple courts 
The sadness in his heart was 'biding still, 
Since what he longed for, sought, was unobtained. 



The evening sun, e'en as he stood, went down 
And deep'ning shadows fell athwart the day, 
When, hearing the loud sound of clanging doors 
And knowing that the temple was now closed. 
King David raised his downcast head and looked 
Far up above the temple to the skies. 
As he did this, he suddenly discerned 
A little swallow circling round and round 
And drawing nearer in her daring flight 
To the great altar, facing which he stood: 
Astonished at the sight, he gazed intent, 
Half-wond'ring if heaven's fire would not con- 
sume 
The impious bird, which now was settling down 
Upon the altar's horn, where — gazing still — 
He saw that she had fixed her new-made nest 
And so had reared her young, full trustingly. 
The fire fell not. Instead, the evening shades 
Closed softly round the bird and all her young, 
Till, nestling there together, chirping ceased. 
And all within the night was still and calm. 
At this king David looked above once more. 
And saw the old-time moon and stars still set. 
In shining benediction, near God's throne. 
129 



The king let fall his head upon his breast 
And then through silent streets he softly passed 
Till he had reached his palace and his couch; 
There he fell down, upon his very face, 
And cried for mercy to the living God, 
Confessing many sins, and this the chief 
That he, God's chosen, had so soon forgot 
The love which takes the weary sinner in, 
The love which pardons every wandering; 
At which, he told God of his heart's unrest 
And asked for Pi is forgiveness and for peace» 



As David lay, the palace lights grew dim. 
Till, flickering low, they went out, one by one,, 
Leaving the palace full of midnight gloom; — 
But in the gloom a king had found his rest 
Within the altar-heart of Israel's God I 

1916. 



130 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: Sept. 2009 

PreservationTechnologies 

A WORLD LEADER IN COLLECTIONS PRESERVATION 

111 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 
(724)779-2111 



